HERMITAGE, Tenn. - Fresh off a tournament championship at the USA Lady Jaguar Invitational Tuesday, the Middle Tennessee women's golf team returned to the links for the Belmont Invitational Thursday.
The Blue Raiders stand in second after the first round with a 23-over 307 on the par-71 course at Old Hickory Country Club, seven shots behind host Belmont. Tennessee Tech also shot a 307 and is tied for second, and Austin Peay (322) and Lipscomb (331) round out the field.
"The course played a little tough today but we definitely left some shots out there," Blue Raider Head Coach Rachael Short said. "There's no question we can play better and we have to come back and do that (Friday) if we are going to win this tournament."
Perhaps the biggest story out of the first round, where Middle Tennessee is concerned, was the play of former Oakland standout Leigh Wilkins who is playing as an individual and scorched the course to the tune of a 2-under 69. She leads the tournament by two strokes over Vanderbilt's Amber Lundskog who also is playing as an individual.
The 69 is a career-best round for Wilkins, who was about as even as it gets with a 35 on the front and a 34 on the back.
"Leigh was outstanding today and she had her whole game working," Short said. "She played with poise and confidence throughout and that was great to see. She has put herself in good position heading into the final round."
As far as team scoring, Taryn Durham leads Middle Tennessee with a 1-over 72, which is third overall. Durham was on a record pace after shooting 33 on the front nine but came back with a 39 on the back. Durham is attempting to earn low medalist honors in consecutive tournaments for the second time in her career.
Senior standout Maggie McGill continued her improved play over the last two tournaments with a 2-over 73 and is tied for fourth entering Friday's final round. All five of the Middle Tennessee players in the lineup came out of the first round in the top 20. Mallory Bishop (80) is tied for 15th, and Clara Leathers and Tasha Gough are tied for 19th with an 82.
The Blue Raiders conclude the Belmont Invitational Friday.
Belmont Invitational
Old Hickory Country Club
Round 1 Team Scores
1 Belmont 300 +16
T2 Middle Tennessee 307 +23
Tennessee Tech 307 +23
4 Austin Peay 322 +38
5 Lipscomb 331 +47
MT Team Scores
3 Taryn Durham 33-39 = 72 (+1)
T4 Maggie McGill 35-38 = 73 (+2)
T15 Mallory Bishop 40-40 = 80 (+9)
T19 Clara Leathers 40-42 = 82 (+11)
T19 Tasha Gough 41-41 = 82 (+11)
* 1 Leigh Wilkins 35-34 = 69 (-2)
* - playing as individual
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