Feb. 18, 2002

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Tara Clayton shot a first-round 83 to lead the Samford University women's golf team to a fifth place ranking after one round of the Southern Shootout on the Greystone Founders Course.

Clayton's 83 tied her for fourth position, five strokes behind tournament leader Laura McCaslin of host Birmingham-Southern. UAB leads after one round with a total of 335, followed by South Alabama (340), Troy State (342), Middle Tennessee State (353) and Samford (357) in the Top 5.

For Samford, Tricia Harlow fired a 90 to follow Clayton, and Kelly Villarreal and Sara Gossum each shot 92 for the Bulldogs' total of 357.

Tough course conditions caused scores to elevate on Monday, as the slick Founders course greens played in the same condition as when Senior PGA Tour players visit Greystone for the Bruno's Memorial Classic.

"Without a doubt this is the most difficult course that our women's team has ever faced," said Samford Head Women's Coach Ian Thompson. "We are pleasantly surprised with our fifth place finish today, and we have every opportunity improve in the second round. We had some tremendous ball striking today, but in some instances the speed of the greens were a cause for our scores to rise."

The Bulldogs' first round total placed them 10 strokes ahead of current Atlantic Sun Conference foe Belmont and future Ohio Valley Conference opponent Tennessee Tech. Samford trails Middle Tennessee by only four strokes and A-Sun rival Troy State by 15.

The standings in the 13-team field were as follows: UAB (335), South Alabama (340), Troy State (342), Middle Tennessee (353), Samford (357), Belmont (367), Tennessee Tech (367), Birmingham-Southern (368), Jackson State (369), Gardner-Webb (374), Nicholls State (380), Montevallo (382) and Lipscomb (395).