Sept. 29, 2008

MONROE, La. - The first-place Samford University women's golf team turned in a 36-hole score of 600 on Monday to give the Bulldogs a 12-stroke advantage in the 2008 Fred Marx Invitational hosted by the University of Louisiana at Monroe at the Bayou Desiard Country Club.

"Our team played very well today and I'm pleased with how they competed," said Samford head coach Woodie Eubanks. "It's great that we're in first place right now, but we still have to come out tomorrow and fight hard to take the title."

Samford's two-round total of 600 was 12 strokes better than both Jacksonville State and McNeese State, which were tied for second place in the 11-team competition. Host Louisiana-Monroe carded a 36-hole score of 626 for a seventh-place standing.

The Bulldogs' Sara Hunt, Katelyn Stanier and Maria Troche all finished in the top five Monday. Samford's talented trio concluded the opening day of the tournament with identical scores of 151. All three Bulldogs ended the day tied for fifth place in the individual standings.

Samford's Sarah Butts added a two-round score of 153, while Heather Arnold posted a first-day total of 158. Arnold, the Bulldogs' junior from Lenior City, Tenn., shot the team's best 18-hole score of 72 in the second round.

Hunt posted the best first-round score for Samford as the junior from Columbia, Tenn., fired a 1-over 73. Stanier tallied a similar 73 in the second round of play.

Jacksonville State's Portia Abbott is ranked first in the individual standings after shooting a 36-hole-best 145.

The first-place Samford University women's golf team will resume play in the 2008 Fred Marx Invitational on Tuesday at 8 a.m., at the Bayou Desiard Country Club in Monroe, La.