SUNSET, S.C. – Jayna Choi recorded the low round for the Vanderbilt women’s golf team on the opening day of the Clemson Invitational on Friday after posting a 2-over-par 74.
The junior — making her first appearance in the Commodore lineup since the initial event of the spring — concluded the day in a tie for 20th place in the individual standings. She carded birdies on the par-five 17th and second holes after beginning play on the back side of the par-72, 6,386-yard The Reserve at Lake Keowee course before closing the round with a three on her last hole for an even-par 36 on her back nine.
Celina Sattelkau had three birdies as well over the opening 18 holes, with threes at Nos. 13 and 15 helping the junior shoot even par on her front nine, as she ended play tied for 29th individually with a 75. Ariel Yu is tied for 42nd place after shooting 76 while competing as an individual, with Louise Yu contributing a 77, Auston Kim a 78, and Tess Davenport two strokes behind Kim.
Vandy finished with a 304 team total and is tied with Florida State for 11th place in the 18-team field. No. 28 Illinois and the host Tigers each shot a 4-over-par 292 to share the 18-hole lead, with the pair two shots in front of ninth-ranked Florida. The Gators’ Marina Escobar Domingo and Chloe Schiavone of Notre Dame are tied atop the individual leaderboard after both fired a 3-under-par 69 as only nine of the 102 individuals competing broke par on the first day of the tournament.
Ariel Yu will begin play for the Dores in the second round with an 8 a.m. (CT) start from the first hole Saturday, with the rest of the squad teeing off on No. 10 led by Davenport at 8:18 a.m.
