WINTER GARDEN, Florida – The Lee University women's golf team will only be five strokes out of the lead when the second-round play begins on Wednesday in the NCAA DII Women's Championship being played on the Orange County National course. Dallas Baptist University fired a 4-under par 284 to lead the tournament and the Lady Flames finished with a 1-over 289. Lee is tied with West Texas A&M for fifth place in the 18-team field.
St. Mary's (TX) 4-under holds down the second spot while Flagler College and Findlay University even-par are tied for third. Olivia Mitchell and Ella Cheek of Dallas Baptist set the pace for medalist honors, both firing 3-under 69s. Seven golfers joined Lee sophomore Hannah Nall in a tie for third place.
Nall set the pace for the Lady Flames on opening day. She was consistent with a 35 on the front and back, finishing with a 2-under 70. The highlight of her round came on the front nine. After a bogie on the first hole, Nall reached the par-5 green with her second shot and then rolled in a long putt for an eagle.
Banthita "Pearl" Phoncharatkun also began her round with a bogie then put together birdies on holes 4, 5 and 8 in carding a 34 on the front side and posting a 37 on the back for her 1-under 71. It was not the best day for GSC Player of the Year and All-Region standout Supuschaya "Yui" Srichantamit. Yui battled a slow start 40 on the opening nine but came back with a 34 to finish with a 2-over 74. Freshman Olivia Ireland also carded a 2-over 74 in giving Lee the four tally that counted. Emily Ritchie finished with a 78.
The Lady Flames will be among the first groups to tee off on Wednesday when they are slated for an 8:20 start.
Coach Almeida's Thoughts:
"Really proud of the way we started today. We were really strong out of the gate. Olivia set the pace for the whole team. Yui, you can never count her out. We knew she was three over after nine holes. I told her just to be patient and keep fighting and she dropped some birdies and it really helped sustain us."
"We have some time to relax and recover tonight, but playing a little earlier may help with the heat and humidity."
