(RMC Athletics release)
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – The Rocky Mountain College women’s golf team opened play at the 2018 NAIA Women’s Golf National Championships on Tuesday by posting a score of 321 to rank tied for 10th after the first day’s action.
The Champion course at PGA National challenged the 30-team field with 16 of the holes being played at least 0.3 shots above par. The weather was windy at times with brief rainstorms throughout both the morning and afternoon sessions.
The Battlin’ Bears went off the No. 10 tee in the morning and the team carded seven birdies – tied for seventh in the field – and they posted 43 pars. They played the famous “Bear Trap” of holes 15-17 at 10-over with three birdies.
Eryn Ellis led the Rocky first round effort by shooting a round of 77 (+5). She played the back nine at 1-over after making birdies on No. 16 and 18. Ellis closed out the day with a birdie on No. 9 to sit in tied for 17th after the day’s action was completed.
Hayden Flohr added a round of 79 (+7) that featured birdies on No. 1, 14, and 15. She was 3-over on the back nine while scoring five straight pars on holes 2-6. Flohr is currently tied for 35th in the field of 157.
Anna DeMars sits in a tie for 58-place through the first round after posting a round of 81 (+9). She tallied 11 pars in the round without making a birdie.
Morgan O’Neil shot 84 (+12) to sit tied for 88th after the first round. Her round featured nine pars and no birdies.
Amanda Conner got off to a tough start with an opening round 90 (+18). She made birdie on No. 16 and carded five pars. Conner is tied for 135th heading into round two.
SCAD Savannah holds the first round lead after shooting 12-over, 300. They are nine strokes clear of William Woods and 10 of Taylor.
Corinne Grans-Wood of Savannah finished atop the individual leaderboard with an even-par 72. She leads a group of three players by one stroke.
Rocky will play in the afternoon session on Wednesday with O’Neil leading the team off No. 1 at 10:30 a.m. MT. Tee times are separated by nine minutes. The field will be cut to the top 17 teams and 40 individuals – plus ties – after the second round is complete.
