April 20, 2008

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - The West Florida women's golf team finished round one at the Gulf South Conference Championships with an 11 stroke lead over Henderson State. The Argos placed four golfers in the top 10, as they lead the nine team tournament with 18 holes left to play on Monday. Natalia Espinosa turned in the best round on Sunday, with a two over par 74, on the Hot Springs Golf Course. West Florida turned in a team score of 315, followed by Henderson State at 326.

The Argos are shooting for their third straight GSC title, and took a clean sweep of the conference awards, announced Friday before play began. Freshman Bhavna Shetty earned Freshman of the Year, and Co-Player of the Year, while Head Coach Robin Dezarn earned her third straight Coach of the Year. Shetty and Espinosa were named to the first team ALL-GSC team. Espinosa was the top player on Sunday, with a two stroke lead going into the final round.

Shetty was in fourth place after round one on Sunday with a 79. Henderson State's Jenna Chadwick and Meredith Mosel were tied for second with a score of 76. The Argos Meaghan Gulliksen was tied for fifth best with a first round score of 80. Rachel Christ was tied for ninth with a first round of 82, while Tara Steakin was one stroke behind at 83, which tied her for 12th place.

Following second place Henderson State, was Montevallo in third place with a 330, and Harding was fourth with a score of 336. Arkansas Tech was in fifth place with a score of 352, while West Georgia was right behind in sixth place with a first round total of 356. Christian Brothers, Southern Arkansas, and Arkansas Monticello rounded out seventh thru ninth place.

The final round of the championships will be played on Monday on the 5, 834 yard par 72 course in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The field will be chasing the Argos, as they shoot for a three-peat.