Nov. 3, 2008

GULF SHORES, Ala. - The Samford women's golf team used a tournament-best performance from junior Sara Hunt to earn a second-place finish after day one of the third-annual UAB Fall Beach Bash held at The Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club. Hunt fired an opening-round score of 71 on Monday to take a one shot lead in the tournament.

Hunt, Samford's native of Columbia, Tenn., was one of three Bulldogs to finish among the top-20 players in the tournament on day one. Senior Maria Troche fired a first-round score of 74 on Monday while junior Katelyn Stanier followed closely with an 18-hole mark of 76.

Troche concluded the day in a four-way tie for seventh place in the individual standings and Stanier finished the opening round in a six-way tie for 16th place.

Rounding out the top-five players for Samford were freshman Sarah Butts and junior Heather Arnold. Butts carded a first-round total of 79 while Arnold turned in an 18-hole score of 85.

Samford's Hunt is leading the individual tournament with a 1-under 71. She is being followed by Columbia's Lynda Kwon who tallied an even-par 72.

Kwon's performance helped lead Columbia to the first-place position Monday. As a team, Columbia turned in a total score of 297. Samford, the second-place team in the tournament, is only three shots back at 300.

The Samford University women's golf team will resume play in the third-annual UAB Fall Beach Bash on Tuesday at The Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club in Gulf Shores, Ala. Tuesday's competition will feature the second-and-final round of the 36-hole tournament.