April 8, 2018
MACON, Ga. – Freshmen on the Vanderbilt women’s golf team propelled the Commodores to the 18-hole lead at the Brickyard Collegiate Sunday in Georgia.
With first-year players Louise Yu, Morgan Baxendale and Virginia Green leading the way, Vanderbilt took an eight-stroke lead after the first round of the 54-hole tournament being held at the Brickyard Golf Club near Macon.
Playing in overcast, cool conditions, the Commodores produced a team score of 6-over par 294. Vanderbilt’s closest pursuers are Old Dominion, Chattanooga, Virginia Tech and Kennesaw State.
Head coach Greg Allen was happy about the opening-round lead but thought the margin could have been higher with a stronger conclusion to the round by his squad.
“Well, it’s nice to be on top of a leaderboard again,” Allen said. “I thought the girls came out and played great early in the round but didn’t finish particularly well.
Zac Ellis: Focus on the Commodores’ youth movement
“I was really proud of the three freshmen and we’re seeing him continue to improve and impress. There’s still a lot of golf left and we need to continue trusting the process and stay committed to being in the present and focusing on the shot before us. That’s really key for this squad,” Allen added.
Vanderbilt came out strong on the hilly, par-72 Brickyard layout, making the turn at one-under par. On the back nine, several Commodores struggled with the difficult par-3 14th hole and the closing par-5 18th hole.
Louise Yu, from Duluth, Ga., paced the Commodores with an even par 72. Yu put herself in serious contention for individual medalist honors, and is tied for the 18-hole lead with Madison Caldwell of Kennesaw State and Payton Schanen of Mercer. Yu opened with a birdie at No. 1, then capped the round with impressive birdies at No. 16 and No. 17.
Yu’s two freshman classmates, Baxendale and Green, provided ample support. Baxendale, from Orlando, Fla., had three birdies in a round of 1-over par 73. Green, from Fairhope, Ala., opened with consecutive bogeys, then responded with five birdies later in the round to also notch a 73.
The two most experienced Commodores, junior Courtney Zeng of Orlando and sophomore Abbey Carlson of Lake Mary, Fla., posted 4-over rounds of 76. Both Zeng and Carlson played well on the front nine only to struggle on the back nine.
The Commodores will open second round play Monday at 9:10 a.m. CT.
Brickyard Collegiate Team Results (1st Rd.)
Team Par Score
1. Vanderbilt +6 294
T-2. Old Dominion +14 302
T-2. Chattanooga +14 302
T-2. Virginia Tech +14 302
5. Kennesaw State +17 305
6. Marshall +20 308
7. Mercer +22 310
8. North Florida +24 312
9. Troy +26 314
10. Jacksonville +28 316
11. ETSU +29 317
12. LSU +31 319
13. Southern Miss +32 320
14. Samford +33 321
Vanderbilt Individual Scores
T-1. Louise Yu E 72
T-4. Morgan Baxendale +1 73
T-4. Virginia Green +1 73
T-21. Abbey Carlson +4 76
T-21. Courtney Zeng +4 76
