Senior Meghan Theiss carded the lone under-par score of the opening round as UNCW claimed the early lead at the 2016 Colonial Athletic Association Women’s Golf Championship at St. James Plantation in Southport on Friday afternoon.
Eight teams teed off in the championship on the par 72, 6,006-yard Reserve Club, for the fifth consecutive year.
The Seahawks, who shot a 307 team score, hold a two-stroke advantage over Elon after the first round. William & Mary is six shots off the lead, while two-time defending champion College of Charleston and Delaware are tied for fourth place.
Theiss, who sits atop the leader board with seven birdies, recorded five of those birdies on the front nine to build her advantage. She finished with a one-under par score of 71 to lead the 40-player field.
UNCW freshman Ellinoora Moisio tied for sixth place after carding a 5-over par score in the first round. Sophomore Alaina Yeatts holds a share of 11th place, while senior Annette Lyche and sophomore Kayla Thompson are tied for 13th and 21st places, respectively.
The Seahawks continue play at the CAA Championship in second round action at 9 a.m. Saturday. The 54-hole tournament concludes on Sunday with the winning team earning an automatic berth to the NCAA Championship.
UNCW Individual Results: 1. Meghan Theiss 71; T6. Ellinoora Moisio 77; T11. Alaina Yeatts 79; T13.Annette Lyche 80; T21. Kayla Thompson 82.
Team Results: 1. UNCW 307; 2. Elon 309; 3. William & Mary 313; T4. College of Charleston 323; T4. Delaware 323; 6. James Madison 328; 7. Towson 330; 8. Hofstra 350.
Individual Leaders: 1. Meghan Theiss (UNCW) 71; 2. Emily Brooks (Elon) 73; T3. Mary Chandler Bryan (CofC) 76; T3. Aurelia Hamm (Elon) 76; T3. Alessandra Liu (W&M) 76; T6. Ellinoora Moisio (UNCW) 77; T6. Andrea Slane (Delaware) 77; T8. Liz Choi (W&M) 78; T8. Katie Edelblut (W&M) 78; T8. Nathalie Filler (Delaware) 78.
