Oct. 5, 2007
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Vanderbilt women’s golf team is in a tie for third out of 18 teams in a very strong field after the first round of play at the Tar Heel Invitational with a team score of 297. Junior Jacqui Concolino had a stellar day to lead the Commodores, firing a two-under, 70, and ended the day in a tie for second heading into play on Saturday.
The Commodores are two strokes behind Wake Forest, which shot a first-round 295, and one stroke behind second-place Tulsa, which ended the day with a 296. Vanderbilt is tied with Tennessee for third place.
“It was a good start to the tournament,” said Vanderbilt head coach Greg Allen. “Today was a day that required patience, and we’re right in the hunt after a good start. It’s going to take a solid two more days to get it done, but we’re right where we want to be.”
Concolino trails Tulsa’s Michaela Cavener by two strokes and is tied with Tennessee’s Angela Oh for second.
“It was a very solid but weird start,” said Concolino. “I three-putted the first hole, made a couple of birdies, and then made a double bogey, so it was a range of emotions. But on the fifth hole, I had to wait on a par three, and it gave me a chance to regroup. I hit a good shot on five within 12 feet, missed the putt, but birdied the next hole. I had it going pretty good after that. We’ve got a good chance, but we’ve got to go out there and play the golf course and not the rest of the field.”
Vanderbilt also got solid performances from Brooke Goodwin and Liebelei Lawrence on Friday. Goodwin ended the day in a tie for ninth after shooting a one-over, 73, and Lawrence is in a tie for 21st after carding a three-over, 75. Megan Grehan shot a seven-over, 79 (T-63rd), and Julie Bartholomew fired a nine-over, 81 (T-78), to close out the Commodore scoring.
The second round of the Tar Heel Invitational continues on Saturday.
Vanderbilt Scores:
T2 Jacqui Concolino – 70 (-2)
T9 Brooke Goodwin – 73 (+1)
T21 Liebelei Lawrence – 75 (+3)
T63 Megan Grehan – 79 (+7)
T78 Julie Bartholomew – 81 (+9)
