Women 6th At Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational

Friday, October 9

Chapel Hill, N.C.

All Day

North Carolina

Ruth's Chris Invitational

October 9, 2015 | Women's Golf

By: UNC Athletic Communications

CHAPEL HILL – The University of North Carolina women's golf team played host to 17 other schools on Friday in the first round of Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational. The Tar Heels finished the day at 7-over par 295 and in sixth place.

“Overall I thought it was a good day,” head coach Jan Mann said. “We played very well on the front nine. After nine we were 2-under-par as a team. Going into 10, 11, 12 – which are tough holes – our team should have played them better. We had some double bogeys on some of those holes and that hurt us. The good news is that they overall came back after that. Leslie Cloots was going strong and then had a double bogey on 15 and it was tough coming in. The girls were striking the ball well. I feel comfortable going into tomorrow. They played with a lot of heart and confidence. I feel like they can perform well out here.”

Freshman Kelly Whaley and sophomore Lexi Harkins led the team with a 1-over 73 performances in the first round. Whaley, from Farmington, Conn., was solid throughout the day with three birdies and four bogeys. Harkins, from Crystal Lake, Ill., had six birdies on the day, but had three bogeys and two double bogeys on the card as well. Harkins leads the tournament in par-5 scoring at 3-under-par. The pair is tied for 13th heading into tomorrow's round. Elizabeth Mallett, a senior from Sutton Coldfield, England, had two birdies and four bogeys in the first round. She finished 2-over 74 and is tied for 28th among all competitors. Leslie Cloots finished the day tied for 38th. The junior from Antwerp, Belgium had a solid start to the day with 12 straight birdies and then back to back birdies. Cloots couldn't capitalize on her good play and finished at 3-over-par 75. Sophomore Bryana Nguyen is tied for 71st after posting a 6-over 78 for the day.

North Carolina had three individuals in the tournament. Junior Rachel Jones finished the day at 6-over-par. She had started strong with two birdies in the first four holes. Jones, from Asheboro, N.C., is tied for 71st. Sophomore Cheni Xu finished the day at 10-over-par. Xu from Zhuhai, China is tied for 89th. Freshman Killian Casson from Greenville, N.C., posted a 12-over-par 84 performance in the first round. Casson finished the day in 93rd in her first collegiate round.

The defending champions, Duke, lead the way with a 3-under 285 in the first round. Alabama posted a 1-over 289 for second place. Louisville finished 4-over 292 to tie NC State for third. In fifth is Michigan State at 5-over and the Tar Heels are in sixth at 7-over.

Michigan State's Katie Sharp has the lead after the first round with an impressive 4-under-par 68. Duke's Leona Maguire finished her round with two straight birdies to get to 3-under for the day and is in second. Her teammate Sandy Choi and Louisville's Molly Skapik are tied for third at 2-under par. Eight individuals are tied for fifth at even par.

“I think the tournament has been fantastic so far,” said Mann. “It is so nice as coaches not to worry about things. The maintenance staff has done a fantastic job in getting the golf course in great shape. The tournament staff has been great and our sponsor, Ruth's Chris, has been awesome. Their CEO, Mike O'Donnell came and and supported the teams and the players. It's been great.”

The Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational is being played at UNC Finley Golf Course, which features a par 72, 6,379-yard layout. Live stats for the tournament can be found on Golfstat.com. Teams will begin teeing off at 9:09 a.m. while individuals will tee off at 8:51 a.m. Fans are encouraged to attend and admission is free.