April 17, 2006

GREENVILLE, N.C. - The Southern Miss Lady Eagle golf team got off to a rocky start at the Conference USA Women's Golf Championship, shooting a team score of 321 in the opening round of the three-day tournament, Sunday, at the par 72, 6,221-yard Ironwood Golf and Country Club in Greenville, N.C.

League newcomer UTEP is the first-round leader with a score of 292, three strokes ahead of a second-place Tulsa squad. Host East Carolina came in third, while SMU is in fourth place, one stroke behind the Pirates with a 298. UCF carded a 303 to place fifth. Memphis and UAB tied for sixth place, while Marshall is currently eighth.

Senior Ashlea Deener currently leads Southern Miss with a 38-37--75 and is tied for 14th, while Jennifer Bodemann is tied for 27th with a 36-42--78. Nicole Mackey (44-40--84) and Johanna Kristiansson (41-43--84) are both tied for 40th, and Kate Burns is 45th overall with a 47-43--90.

Second round action begins at 8 a.m., Monday, with the final round teeing off at the same time on Tuesday. The winner of the C-USA Championship receives an automatic berth to the NCAA Regionals.

Team Standings

1. UTEP - 292
2. Tulsa - 295
3. East Carolina - 297
4. SMU - 298
5. UCF - 303
6t. Memphis - 310
6t. UAB -310
8. Marshall - 312
9. Southern Miss - 321