HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Paced by a 1-under par 71 round from Lily Nelson, the Great American Conference Freshman of the Year, Henderson State finished Sunday’s opening round of the 2023 GAC Women’s Golf Championships from Hot Springs Country Club nine shots clear of Southwestern Oklahoma State.
FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARDS || SECOND ROUND PAIRINGS
Nelson collected three birdies as part of her first round. All five participants for the No. 4 Reddies finished inside the top 12 as they collectively posted 5-over 293. Daphney Tilton, a Second-Team All-GAC performer, shared second place following a 1-over 73. Gracen Blount, the GAC Player of the Year, carded a 2-over 74. Jinna Boonbumroongsuk, a unanimous First-Team honoree, registered a 3-over 75 and Allie Bianchi, also unanimous First-Team selection, shot a 5-over 77.
Three Bulldogs finished inside the top 10. Drew Dodgion paced the team with a 1-over 73 to tie Tilton for second place. Ashlyn Acosta followed with a 2-over 74 and Megan Brown contributed a 3-over 75.
A 4-over 76 by Kendall Kerr steered Southern Nazarene into third place, 17 shots behind SWOSU. Southern Arkansas and Oklahoma Baptist finished in a tie for fourth. SAU’s Aurea Carlisle picked up a pair of birdies en route to shooting a 2-over 74 to tie for fifth. Hayden Meiser’s 4-over 76 led the Bison while Morgan Becker, the lone non-Reddie on the All-GAC First-Team added a 7-over 79.
Harding ended Sunday in sixth place followed by Arkansas Tech, Arkansas-Monticello and Northwestern Oklahoma State. The Blossoms’ Gabriela Maldonado joined Dodgion Tilton in a three-way tie for second with a 1-over 73.
Monday's second round play begins at 8 a.m.