GREENVILLE, Ala. – The 14th-ranked Loyola University New Orleans women's golf team put together an excellent first round at the Southern States Athletic Conference Championship on Monday, carding a 293 (+5) team score to lead the tournament by two strokes. No. 2 Dalton State is in second place after shooting a team score of 295 (+7) and No. 7 William Carey is back in third place with a 306 (+18) score.
Loyola's score of 293 is tied for the fourth-best round score in program history, and the 5-over score is tied for the third-best to-par mark for a tournament round in program history.
The team also has three players in the Top 5 of the individual leaderboard, and Daniella Salazar leads the way with a tournament-low first-round score of 71 on Monday. The senior had six straight pars to begin her round before a double bogey on the seventh. Salazar would bounce back to birdie the next hole then proceeded to birdie the 10th and 12th as well to get to 1-under for her round. She'd finish off her round with six straight pars to lead the 33-golfer field after 18 holes of play. Her round score of 71 is tied for the sixth-best round score ever by a Wolf Pack women's golfer, too.
Emma Smithers is right behind Salazar in a tie for second place with teammate Blair McKenzie, both carding rounds of 72. Smithers, a senior, came out of the gates hot with a birdie on hole No. 1 before nine straight pars to remain 1-under through 10 holes. Another birdie on the 11th moved her down to 2-under, then three bogeys and another birdie helped her finish the first round even-par. McKenzie had a more up-and-down start than Smithers, carding three bogeys, one birdie and three pars through her first seven holes. However, the sophomore would play her final 11 holes 2-under to bring her to even-par after 18 holes.
Lainey Cristan had a solid day, too, finishing the first round in a tie for 14th with a 78 (+6) score. She recorded 13 pars throughout her round, but a few bogeys and a double bogey sprinkled on her scoreboard brought Cristan to her final score. Catherine Singletary ended the first of the tournament in 21st place after her round of 82 (+10).
Kaitlyn Montoya, playing as an individual, shot a first-round 83 (+11) to sit in a tie for 23rd.
Women's Team Leaderboard
1. #14 Loyola – Round 1: 293 (+5)
2. #2 Dalton State – Round 1: 295 (+7)
3. #7 William Carey – Round 1: 306 (+18)
Women's Individual Leaderboard
1. Daniella Salazar (Loyola) – Round 1: 71 (-1)
T2. Emma Smithers (Loyola) – Round 1: 72 (E)
T2. Blair McKenzie (Loyola) – Round 1: 72 (E)
One other tied for second
Loyola Women's Leaderboard
1. Daniella Salazar – Round 1: 71 (-1)
T2. Emma Smithers – Round 1: 72 (E)
T2. Blair McKenzie – Round 1: 72 (E)
T14. Lainey Cristan – Round 1: 78 (+6)
T21. Catherine Singletary – Round 1: 82 (+10)
23. Kaitlyn Montoya (I) – Round 1: 83 (+11)
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