Sept. 15, 2008

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - The Samford University women's golf team turned in its best round in school history Monday as the Bulldogs fired an impressive 3-under 291 at the 2008 Great Smokies Collegiate. The score was good for second place in the opening round held at the par 72, 5,922-yard Waynesville Country Club.

Samford concluded day one of the two-day competition with all five of its players shooting 76 or under.

The Bulldogs' junior all-conference performer Katelyn Stanier led the way with a 2-under 70 (35-35). A native of Newnan, Ga., Stanier finished round one tied for fourth place in the tournament.

Also shooting under par for Samford on Monday was junior Sara Hunt. The Bulldogs' native of Columbia, Tenn., fired a first-round score of 1-under 71 (38-33), which was good for eighth place amongst all competitors. Hunt's back-nine score of 33 was tied for the tournament's best round of the day.

Samford's Sara Butts (37-38) and Maria Troche (36-39) both turned in first-round scores of 75, while Heather Arnold carded a first-day total of 76 (37-39).

The Bulldogs placed second out of 21 teams Monday and trailed only the homestanding Western Carolina Catamounts by seven strokes. Western Carolina, the host team of the 2008 Great Smokies Collegiate, tallied a 4-under 284 in the opening round.

Individually, Tennessee Tech's Carley Rhyne, Austin Peay's Chelsea Harris and Belmont's Lorie Warren all posted tournament-best scores of 3-under 69.

Samford will conclude play in the 2008 Great Smokies Collegiate on Tuesday as the Bulldogs compete in the final two rounds of the season-opening tournament.