WILMINGTON, N.C. – The Penn State women's golf team completed the opening round of the Landfall Tradition on Friday morning at the Country Club of Landfall's Dye Course. The Nittany Lions currently sit tied for 11th in the 18-team field following an 8-over round of 296.
"The course was set up tough and the greens were super-fast," mentioned head coach Denise St. Pierre. "We struggled getting used to the speed through the opening nine holes, but I feel we are in a good position amongst a strong field."
No. 13 Alabama and No. 19 Illinois are currently tied for first at 3-under (285) while No. 32 Virginia is just one stroke back a 2-under and No. 9 South Carolina and No. 37 Florida State round out the top-5 in a tie for fourth at 1-over.
The Nittany Lions are tied with Big Ten foe No. 44 Michigan (8-over) while they are currently ahead of conference counterparts Purdue (9-over), No. 42 Maryland (10-over) and No. 10 Michigan State (11-over).
Sophomore Sarah Willis (Eaton, Ohio) had a stellar opening round mixing in a pair of bogeys with five birdies for a 3-under, 69, and is currently tied for second just one stroke back of UCF's Tunrada Piddon who shot the low round of the day with a 4-under, 68.
"The greens were very firm and fast so I was really focused on placing my approach shots in safe spots and having good speed on my putts," commented Willis.
Senior Megan McLean (Lebanon, N.J.) rebounded nicely after a 2-over start through the opening seven holes and finished the day 1-over firing a 73 and is tied for 31st. Freshman Mathilde Delavallade (Royan, France) carded a 76 (4-over) while senior Maddy Herr (New Hope, Pa.) rounded out the top-4 team totals with a 6-over, 78. Junior Olivia Zambruno (Mt. Pleasant, Pa.) finished the day 9-over (81).
The Nittany Lions are right back on the course tomorrow morning for the second round of the Landfall Tradition with tee times beginning at 8:30 a.m.
