Oct. 22, 2001

WAYNESVILLE, NC - Tara Clayton shot a first-round 78 to place and the Samford women's golf team placed 15th of 24 teams with a 326 at the Great Smokies Women's Collegiate golf tournament Monday.

Clayton's 78 placed her six strokes behind the tournament leader, Murray State's Cuyler Hedley who shot even par on Monday. Tricia Harlow finished four strokes behind Clayton with 82, followed by a pair of 83s by Kelly Villareal and Sara Gossum. Courtney Sanders rounded out the Bulldog roster with 84. Coastal Carolina leads the team competition with a first-round 305.

"I thought all of our team should have broken 80 today, but I am encouraged that we are still have a chance to move up with a strong finish," said Samford Head coach Ian Thompson. "The greens were faster than we are used to and we struggled on them a bit, but we had our best tournament of the year on this course last season and I now with today's knowledge we can improve on Tuesday."

Elon (307) and Austin Peay State follow Coastal Carolina in a tie for second, followed by Western Carolina (310) and Murray State in the tournament's Top 5.