FIRST ROUND RESULTS || HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Henderson State grabbed a one-shot lead after the opening round of the 2014 Great American Conference Women’s Golf Championships on Sunday from Hot Springs Country Club.
The Lady Reddies, last year’s runner-up to Harding, carded four rounds in the 70’s to post a team score of 303, one better than Arkansas Tech, the Central Region’s top-ranked team. Henderson State entered the week ranked sixth in Central Region. Southwestern Oklahoma State, fifth in the latest Central Region rankings, finished the day in third with a score of 317.
Three individuals carded even-par rounds to share the 18-hole lead. Arkansas Tech’s Rebecka Surtevall, the region’s top-ranked golfer, and Taylor Kline shot matching 72’s as did Henderson State’s Erin Brown. Surtevall and Kline each made four birdies in the round. HSU’s Kendall Earp, the 2013 individual medalist, and Ally Harris shot 4-over 76’s to share fourth place. Harris registered three birdies. SWOSU’s Ashlynn Hall and Jessica Heard closed the day inside the top 10. Hall shot a 5-over 77 to share sixth place while Heard’s 6-over 78 left hit alone in eighth position.
East Central ended the day in fourth place, followed by the group of Southern Arkansas, Arkansas-Monticello and Harding. Only five shots separate the Lady Muleriders, Cotton Blossoms and Lady Bisons. Harding’s Brittany Marquez, a 2013 First-Team All-GAC performer, shot a 5-over 77 to share sixth place. The Lady Tigers’ Molli Taylor shot a 7-over 79 to share ninth position. Pamela Quiatchon paced UAM with a 79.
Southern Nazarene and Northwestern Oklahoma State are competing as individuals. The Crimson Storm’s Marion Broedys matched ECU’s Taylor with a 79.
Second-round play begins Monday at 7:30 a.m. with Arkansas-Monticello, Harding and Ouachita Baptist paired in the opening group along with Northwestern Oklahoma State’s Alissa Stelling.