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GEORGETOWN, S.C. – Annelie Sjoholm is tied for the individual lead and Campbell is two strokes off the team pace after Monday's first round of the Big South Conference women's golf championship at Deborieu Golf Club. Nadine White and Tahnia Ravnjak are also among the top 10 individuals for Campbell (296), which trails defending champion Coastal Carolina (294) heading into Tuesday's second round.
Playing in her first Big South Championship, Sjoholm made three birdies over the first 13 holes. She made three-straight bogeys, but recovered with a birdie on the par-four 17th to finish at one-under-par 71. A sophomore from Vasteras, Sweden, Sjoholm was the lone golfer in the 44-player field to play the par four holes under par (-3) and was even on the par-five layouts on the par-72, 6082-yard DeBordieu layout. Her four birdies lead the event.
Lena Schaeffner of Coastal Carolina also shot 71 Monday, while Coastal teammate Bailey Cocca is third at even-par 72. White is fourth and one-over 73, while Coastal's Barbora Bakova and Winthrop's Ashley Sloup are knotted in fifth place at two-over 74.
Last year's runner-up, Campbell players combined for 11 birdies on Monday to lead the nine-team event. The Camels also topped the field in par-four scoring (+10), while rating second on the par-three (+4) layouts.
"Our ladies worked hard all day and were in position to take the lead, but we just missed a few too many putts. Fortunately, we've got a couple more days to play," said head coach John Crooks. "Annie played solidly all day. You never can tell how she's playing by looking at her or talking to her. She was on fire for a while, and I'm really proud of her effort."
White and Schaeffner both played the par-3 holes at 2-under, best in the field. A junior from Brisbane, Australia, White made three birdies and 11 pars on the day. Coming off her second individual win of the season at last week's Web.com Intercollegiate, White was 2-over on the par-four holes (tied for fifth).
Ravnjak, a senior from Cordeaux Heights, Australia, had three birdies on the day and was one-under on the par fives while playing the par-four layouts at two-over. The 2014 Big South individual runner-up birdied the 17th hole to finish the back nine at one-over move into a tie for seventh-place at 3-over 75.
Sophomore Ayelen Irizar of Buenos Aires, Argentina also made her league tournament debut Monday. She made 13 pars on the day, third-best in the field, and is tied for 14th at five-over 77. Junior Louise Latorre, who won the 2014 Big South individual title as a freshman, is tied for 26th after an opening round 80.
Top-seeded and ranked No.-52 in the nation, Campbell holds a six-stroke edge over third place Charleston Southern after 18 holes. No.-59 Coastal Carolina had three players among the top five individuals Monday to grab its opening round lead.
Campbell will be paired with Coastal Carolina and Charleston Southern for Tuesday's second round and will start from the first tee at 9:20 a.m. Live scoring is available at Golfstat.com.
Now in his 25th year in charge of the Campbell women's program, Crooks has guided his Campbell women to 12 conference championships and 10 runner-up finishes, including the Big South crowns in 1993, 1994, 2012 and 2014. His teams have made 18 NCAA regional appearances and have advanced to the NCAA Championship three times, including the past two seasons.
2016 Big South Conference Women's Golf Championship
Georgetown, S.C. / DeBordieu GC
Apr. 11-13, 2016 / Par 72, 6082 Yards
First Round Team Results: 1. Coastal Carolina 294, 2. Campbell 296, 3. Charleston Southern 302, 4. Winthrop 310, 5. Gardner-Webb 313, T6. Presbyterian 323, T6. Longwood 323, 8. Radford 325, 9. High Point 329.
First Round Individual Leaders: T1. Lena Schaeffner (Coastal) 71, T1. Annelie Sjoholm (Campbell) 71, 3. Bailey Cocca (Coastal) 72, 4. Nadine White (Campbell) 73, T5. Barbora Bakova (Coastal) 74, T5. Ashley Sloup (Winthrop) 74.
Other Campbell Individuals: T7. Tahnia Ravnjak 75, T14. Ayelen Irizar 77, T26. Louise Latorre 80.
