May 9, 2006

HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Florida - Hardin-Simmons women's golf team shot a first round total of 360 to sit in eighth place in the four-day NCAA Division III Tournament which is played at the par-73 layout of El Campeon Golf Course at the Mission Inn Golf & Tennis Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida.

Junior Kristi Martin started strong with a 39 in the opening nine but struggled on the way in shooting a 46 on the back side for a one day total of 85. Martin is in a tie for 25th place. Andra Boxberger had a solid first round for the Cowgirls as she came in with a 89 putting her in a tie for 37th.

Chandra Hayes shot 42-50 to finish at 19 over for a 92. Megan Bennett fired a 48-46 for a score of 94. Junior Andrea Conley, which is the only Cowgirl playing in her national tournament, shot a 53-47 to shoot 100.

Methodist University is leading the tournament with an impressive 308, which is 16 over par. Methodist is leading the tournament by 19 strokes over De Pauw University who shot 327. Wartburg College sits in third place, one stroke behind De Pauw with a 328. Gustavus Adolphus is in fourth with a one round total of 334 while Wiscosin Eau Claire rounds out the top five shooting a 342.

Fellow ASC foe Mary Hardin-Baylor shot a 349 to sit alone in sixth place while Southwestern, the third Texas team out of the ten-team field, finished at 375 and is in the tenth spot.

Methodist has three players in the top five with Emily Ranney and Colleen Walsh, both of Methodist, sharing the lead with a three-over 76. There is a three-way tie for third with three players shooting 77. Sarah Gates of De Pauw, Andrea Schiltz of Wartburg, and Charlotte Williams all shot a four-over 77.

The second round will resume tomorrow with teams teeing off in progressive tee times starting at 9 a.m.

--- HSU Athletics ---