NASHVILLE, Tenn. ?The University of Kentucky women?s golf team opened its 2007-08 campaign in stylish fashion, shooting 290 in its opening round of the Mason Rudolph Invitational, hosted by Vanderbilt, Friday.
Head Coach Myra Blackwelder could not have scripted her coaching debut any better, as the Wildcats? hold seventh place among a field that includes GolfWeek?s top nine ranked teams, and 15 of the nation?s top-27. Kentucky is just one of two teams among the field unranked, and are leading six of the country?s top-15 teams including four Southeastern Conference foes.
?We?re really excited about our start today,? said Blackwelder. ?We?ve had some great practices the last two weeks, and we were confident we could come in here and do this. I think the girls are starting to believe in themselves, and you can see their confidence growing.?
Junior Mallory Blackwelder led a quality team effort shooting three-under par (69) to open round one in a tie for sixth place. Blackwelder led two golfers under par, and no Wildcat shot higher than 80.The Versailles native birdied four holes and bogeyed just one to pace the Blue and White.
Sophomore Erica Still shot an under-par score of 71 for the first time in her career. Her previous best round included two rounds of 72 as a rookie. Still brought four birdies into the clubhouse as well.
Freshman Louise Ljungstedt, in her collegiate debut, finished the day with a one-over (73) score. Ljungstedt a native of Sweden shot four birdies, with three bogeys and a double bogey in her round. Senior Elizabeth Dotson rounded out the team scoring for day one with a five-over (77) score.
Sophomore Kristin Vincent concluded Kentucky?s field shooting an 80 to open play for her first tournament in the Blue and White.
?A golf tournament is a long process,? said Blackwelder. ?We?ll fine tune some things tonight, but we?re going to come out here tomorrow and give it our best shot again. We?re up against the best teams in the country, and we know they?re not going to rest.?
Kentucky and the field return to the links again tomorrow beginning at 9 a.m. for second round action. Live stats are available at www.golfstat.com, and complete results of the Wildcats can be found at www.ukathletics.com at the conclusion of each day?s round.
AGATE?1) #2 Arizona State (280); 2) #4 UCLA (281); 3) #9 Arizona (283); 4) #1 Duke (284); 5) #13 Florida (285); 6) #5 Auburn (288); 7) Kentucky (290) T8) #3 Southern California (291); #14 Georgia (291); #11 Wake Forest (291); 11) #6 Oklahoma State (292); T12) #20 Stanford (293); #27 LSU (293); T14) #24 South Carolina (294); #7 Purdue (294); 16) Ohio State (295); 17) #8 Vanderbilt (301)
WILDCAT SCORES
T6-Mallory Blackwelder (69)
T17-Erica Still (71)
T35-Louise Ljungstedt (73)
T67-Elizabeth Dotson (77)
T86-Kristin Vincent (80)
