What You Need to Know:
* Georgia State opened the 23rd annual John Kirk Panther Intercollegiate on Sunday with a 26-over 314 to sit tied for 10th with 36 holes to play.
* Junior Jooeun Bae led the Panthers with a 3-over 75, including an eagle on the par 5 18th hole, to sit tied for 20th.
* Elon and Western Kentucky are tied for the team lead at 5-over par, while Elon's Emily Brooks and Kelsey Badmaev are tied for the individual lead at 1-under par.
STOCKBRIDGE, Ga. – The Georgia State women's golf team opened the 23rd annual John Kirk Panther Intercollegiate at Eagle's Landing Country Club on Sunday with a first round 25-over 314 to sit tied for 10th with 36 to play. The Panthers were led by junior Jooeun Bae who shot a 3-over 75 to sit tied for 20th.
Elon and Western Kentucky are tied for the top spot after each shot a 5-over 293 in rainy conditions. The teams were pulled off the course due to lightning at 12:45 p.m., and returned to the course 75 minutes later. Eastern Kentucky stands third at 7-over, with Florida Gulf Coast in fourth at 9-over. Western Michigan and CSU Fullerton are tied for fifth at 13-over.
Elon's Emily Brooks and Kelsey Badmaev were the lone two golfers to break par on Sunday and are tied for the lead at 1-under par. A group of seven are at even par, including the duo of Chloe Lawrie and Claire Hernandez from Western Michigan, Western Kentucky's Ellinor Haag, CSU Fullerton's Martina Edberg, UAB's Sydney Snodgrass and teammates Sofie Levin and Rachel Welker of Eastern Kentucky.
The John Kirk Panther Intercollegiate is the lone home tournament on Georgia State's schedule and is open to the public. Eagle's Landing Country Club is located off Exit 224 on I-75.
“We made some nice birdies today and even an eagle, but too many big numbers did us in,” head coach Cathy Mant said. “Our team expects to play better on our home course and I have no doubt will come out tomorrow looking to climb the leaderboard.
Bae made two birdies during the first round and eagled the par 5 18th hole to finish the round.
Junior Solene LeCoz and freshman Jemima Gregson opened the tournament with rounds of 79 to sit tied for 46th entering round two. Sophomore Yasemin Sari added a 9-over 81 to sit tied for 59th, while senior Jule Lied shot 87 and is tied for 76th.
Paula Zabarte, playing as an individual, opened play with a 4-over 76 and is tied for 27th.
Tee times will begin at 8:30 a.m., on Monday off Holes No. 1 and 10. Georgia State will be paired with Illinois State and Brown off Hole No. 10 at 10 a.m. Live 3-hole scoring throughout the event can be at GolfStat.com.
Following this week's tournament, Georgia State will return to action April 17-19 for the Sun Belt Conference Championship in Miramar Beach, Fla., at The Raven Golf Club. The winner of the tournament will receive the league's automatic bid to NCAA Regional play.
