Hall Strong in Opening Round of A-Sun Championship
4/11/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
DeLand, Fla. – USC Upstate freshman Amanda Hall didn't seemed phased in her first appearance in the A-Sun Championships, firing a 73 to lead the Spartans in the first round of the tournament Monday afternoon at Victoria Hills Golf Club.
Hall (Tega Cay, S.C.) opened the round with a birdie on the par-4 first hole. She took double bogey on the par-4 sixth, but got a shot back with a birdie on the par-5 ninth hole to shoot even par on the front nine. She recorded one birdie and two bogeys on the back nine to shoot 1-over for the round. She is tied for sixth after posting 73 for the day, three strokes back from first round leader Kimberly Graff from Mercer.
"I am extremely happy for Amanda and the way she played," said Upstate head coach Todd Lawton. "She is a very even-tempered player and focused on her emotions on the positive today. She overcame a poor tee shot on the sixth hole and made par on seven and eight before willing herself to a birdie with a downhill, left-to-right breaking putt on No. 9."
While Hall was simply outstanding on the day, the rest of the Spartans struggled as Upstate posted a 329. The Spartans are ninth in the tournament, five strokes ahead of Lipscomb and 14 shots back of Belmont.
Kennesaw State opened the tournament with a 294 to take the lead after the first round. Campbell ended the day in second place after a 297 and was followed by East Tennessee State (298), Campbell (298), Mercer (300), Florida Gulf Coast (306), Jacksonville (314), Belmont (315), Upstate (324) and Lipscomb (329).
Johanna Ebenhag, a senior from Gothenberg, Sweden, and Rachel Lewis, a freshman from Llanishen, Wales, each shot 84 on the day and are tied for 42nd. Taylor Pleier (Spartanburg, S.C.) opened with an 88, while Marissa Clontz (Greenville, S.C.) shot a 94.
The tournament continues with the second round on Tuesday and will conclude with the final round on Wednesday.
