The Drake University women's golf team finished day one of the Loyola Invitational in sole possession of first place, Monday evening.
Drake has a 36-hole total of 617 (310-307), which puts them two strokes ahead of South Dakota. The Bulldogs showed a total team effort through 36 holes, placing all five of their competing members, plus one golfer playing as an individual, in the top 20 of the 53-player field through the first day of competition. What has separated Drake from the rest of the pack was its top-to-bottom success so far, with just 11 strokes separating the top and bottom finishers through day one.
"The team showed they can grind today," said Drake head coach Rachael Pruett-Hornbaker. "It wasn't our best day of golf and we still managed to pull together a couple of decent rounds as a team. The talent of this group is deep, and it's showing with different players contributing to the team score each round."
Of Drake's six players currently inside the top 20, three are in the top seven including sophomore and reigning MVC Golfer of the Week Haeri Lee. Lee posted rounds of 78 and 74 and is currently in fifth place overall. Kristen Giles and Sigurlaug Jonsdottir both shot 154 and are tied for 7th place.
"Sigurlaug showed great mental toughness today," Pruett-Hornbaker said. "After starting her day with several bogeys, we had a chat about what was happening and her demeanor completely changed after that. She was loose, confident, and having fun. In her second round, she didn't let a late double bogey get to her and made a birdie a few holes later. I'm really proud of the way she carried herself today."
Aimee Gerschke posted a 159 (81-78) and is tied for 16th, and freshman Abby Marting is tied for 20th with a 36-hole total of 163 (84-79) in her first collegiate event as part of the main lineup. Sam Paulak, playing as an individual, also totaled a 163 (81-82) to finish the day tied for 20th.
The Bulldogs will be back in action on Tuesday morning at 9 a.m.
"I'm excited to have the team in contention and for the opportunity to gain experience of being in the lead," Pruett-Hornbaker added.
