Women's golf team in sixth after first round of national tournament
The Eastern Florida State College women's golf team made history Monday morning, teeing off in the NJCAA Division I National Championship Tournament for the first time in program history.
The Titans are in sixth place after the first round, shooting a 329 as a team at Mayfair Country Club in Sanford.
"It was a struggle out there today for sure, but we just have to clean up the basics and definitely come out better tomorrow," sophomore Delia Timpy said. "There is plenty of golf left, anything can happen, and you just have to stick with it and keep your head up."
Kira Shellman was the first one on the tee box, hitting a nice tee shot at No. 10 on her way to a par to begin the round. The Vero Beach native would shoot 1-over for the first nine holes but struggled with the wind, as well as some slow play in the afternoon and is tied for 30th overall after an 83.
"The whole experience of coming here together as a team and getting to share that as a team and just getting out of the van this morning and seeing all of the tents and thinking – Oh my Gosh, this is the national tournament! It has been a really cool day," Shellman said.
Morela Boyd shot even par over the first nine holes after opening the round with a birdie, becoming the first Titans player to record a birdie in a national tournament. The freshman also birdied No. 13. Boyd is tied for 15th overall after shooting a 78. Boyd is tied for first in par 3s with an average score of even par. The Merritt Island native almost had an eagle on No. 3 but the putt circled the hole and stayed out. She would tap in for birdie.
Savannah Hawthorne was one of two players in the tournament to have an eagle in the first round, scoring a 3 on the par-5 12th that played about 420 yards. Hawthorne and Timpy are both tied for 32nd after the first round. Teammate Gabrielle Fernandez finished the first round tied for 37th overall.
"It was definitely difficult out here today, especially with the wind," Timpy said. "It was a struggle because you weren't always sure which way the wind was going and the greens were tough, we just have to manage the putts and the speed better. It is just a matter of managing the little things."
Seminole State College is leading the event, shooting a 296 in the first round. Minori Nagano had the only score under par in the first round, recording a 1-under 71.
The Titans will tee off Tuesday morning for the second round of the tournament.
