University of North Carolina Athletics

Kayla Smith
Photo by: Andy Mead
Smith Leads Women's Golf with 69 at Ruth's Chris Round 1
October 15, 2021 | Women's Golf
Symone Henriques and Emily Mahar both shot 3-under-par 69s to lead Virginia Tech to a one-stroke advantage over Wake Forest after the first round of the Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational Friday at UNC Finley Golf Course.
The Hokies shot 6-under 282. Wake Forest is second at 5-under 283, Kentucky is third at 4 under and Michigan and Clemson are tied for fourth at 3 under.
Host North Carolina is ninth at 1-over 289. The Tar Heels have a pair of players in the top 10 in the individual standings –Kayla Smith is tied for fourth after a 69 and Krista Junkkari is tied for ninth after shooting 70.
Duke's Erica Shepherd is the individual leader after an opening-round 66. Shepherd made six birdies on the front side to turn at 6-under 30, then made two more birdies and two bogeys on the back side.
Shepherd leads Kentucky's Laney Frye and Alabama's Benedetta Moresco, who both shot 68, by two strokes.
Twenty-six of the 96 players in field shot under par, including eight who shot in the 60s.
Smith, a junior from Burlington, N.C., made four birdies and only one bogey, on the par-4 15th hole, in shooting 69, the second-lowest round of her collegiate career.
Carolina senior Nicole Lu shot 1-under 71 and is tied for 18th as an individual entry. Freshman Stephany Kim carded a 73.
Second-round action gets underway Saturday at 8:30 a.m.
The final round is Sunday with a shotgun start beginning at 8:45 a.m.
The Hokies shot 6-under 282. Wake Forest is second at 5-under 283, Kentucky is third at 4 under and Michigan and Clemson are tied for fourth at 3 under.
Host North Carolina is ninth at 1-over 289. The Tar Heels have a pair of players in the top 10 in the individual standings –Kayla Smith is tied for fourth after a 69 and Krista Junkkari is tied for ninth after shooting 70.
Duke's Erica Shepherd is the individual leader after an opening-round 66. Shepherd made six birdies on the front side to turn at 6-under 30, then made two more birdies and two bogeys on the back side.
Shepherd leads Kentucky's Laney Frye and Alabama's Benedetta Moresco, who both shot 68, by two strokes.
Twenty-six of the 96 players in field shot under par, including eight who shot in the 60s.
Smith, a junior from Burlington, N.C., made four birdies and only one bogey, on the par-4 15th hole, in shooting 69, the second-lowest round of her collegiate career.
Carolina senior Nicole Lu shot 1-under 71 and is tied for 18th as an individual entry. Freshman Stephany Kim carded a 73.
Second-round action gets underway Saturday at 8:30 a.m.
The final round is Sunday with a shotgun start beginning at 8:45 a.m.
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