Oct. 8, 2010
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky women’s golf team completed first round action Friday at the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championships in Knoxville, Tenn., with sophomore Betsie Johnson shooting a two-under par 70.
Johnson, a Nicholasville, Ky., native, continued her strong play from one week prior where she earned a career-high finish when she came in fifth place at the William K. Warren Irish Invitational. Johnson currently sits in a tie for fourth place, just three strokes off the lead. Her 70 on Friday ties her collegiate career low, and is her lowest round of the season thus far.
Heather Lott shot a six-over par 78 in the first round. Lott birdied three of her final six holes Friday and will look to build on that going into Saturday’s second round.
Junior Ashlee Rose shot a seven-over par 79, Louise Ljungstedt shot an eight-over par 80 and Ashleigh Albrecht shot a nine-over par 81.
Megan Moir, who is competing as an individual in this tournament, shot an opening round eight-over par 80.
“Overall, the whole team had to dig deep all day,” head coach Golda Johansson Borst said. “I am very proud of them because they all faced adversity and never gave up. I feel very confident this first round will light a fuse within each of them, and they will come out strong tomorrow.”
Albrecht will tee off at 9 a.m. Saturday for the Cats. Ljungstedt, Rose, Lott and Johnson will each tee off every nine minutes following Albrecht, respectively. Each of the five golfers will be teeing off on the 10th hole to begin their rounds. Moir will tee off from the first hole at 10:30 a.m.
The Cats are competing in the three-round, three-day tournament, against 14 other teams. Eighty-four golfers are competing in the tournament. The Wildcats will face off against Southeastern Conference foes, Arkansas, Ole Miss and Tennessee, the host club, as well as Chattanooga, Coastal Carolina, East Tennessee State, Furman, Georgia State, James Madison, Kent State, Notre Dame, Texas Christian, UNC-Greensboro and the University of Texas-San Antonio.
Five of the 15 teams competing are ranked among the top 50 in the Golf World/NGCA poll. Tennessee comes in at No. 24, Ole Miss is No. 27, TCU is No. 35, UNC-G is No. 38 and Arkansas is 42nd.
Stay tuned to UKathletics.com for more news on the UK women’s golf team and the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championships.
MERCEDES-BENZ COLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Oct. 8-10, 2010
Holston Hills Country Club (Par 72 – 6,302 yards)
First round results
Betsie Johnson 70 – 70 (-2)
Heather Lott 78 – 78 (+6)
Ashlee Rose 79 – 79 (+7)
Louise Ljungstedt 80 – 80 (+8)
Ashleigh Albrecht 81 – 81 (+9)
*Megan Moir 80 – 80 (+8)
KENTUCKY 307 – 307 (+19)
*Competing as an individual
