Morrow leads Golden Flashes with two-over 74 in opening round
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Playing in a plethora of weather conditions, from driving rain to blustery wind to brilliant sun, the Kent State women's golf team posted a team score of 18-over 306 to stand in 17th place at the 2012 NCAA Women's Golf East Regional, hosted by Penn State University at the Blue Course.
Kent State was paced by senior Mandi Morrow (Kent, Ohio), who shot a two-over 74 with one birdie to three bogeys to sit in a tie for 24th place. Morrow tallied her birdie on the par-4 no. 6 as she was even-par on the course's front nine, Kent State's final nine holes.
Fellow senior Mercedes Germino (Necochea, Argentina) was second-best for Kent State, posting a four-over 76. Her putt on her final hole, the par-5 no. 9, was good for her lone birdie of the round.
Freshman Jennifer Ha (Calgary, Alberta) tallied a birdie on the par-5 no. 18 on Thursday on her way to a five-over 77. She is tied for 59th overall.
After struggling early, sophomore Erin Hawe (Walton, New Zealand) shot even par for her final 11 holes to finish with a seven-over 79, ranking in a tie for 89th place.
Senior Shamira Marshall (Macedonia, Ohio) rounded out Kent State's effort with an eight-over 80.
The top eight teams will advance to the NCAA Championship in two weeks; Kent State is seven strokes out from the team cut line.
South Carolina leads the way after shooting an even-par 288 in the morning round to lead second-place Alabama by four strokes. Texas A&M's Katerina Ruzickova is the individual leader after the first round thanks to a five-under 67 to lead by one stroke.
Kent State will begin Friday's second round at 7:30 a.m. off the first tee and will again be paired with Maryland and San Diego State.
