Bears in the Hunt After Day 1 of LPGA Invitational

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Mercer University’s women’s golf team finds itself right in the thick of things after the first round of the LPGA Invitational hosted by Xavier University on the LPGA International Legends Course. After the first 18 holes, the Bears sit in a tie for fifth place with a team composite score of 310.

MU is 12 shots behind tourney leader Campbell University’s aggregate of 298 after Day No. 1.

“We could have played a lot better today,” MU Head Coach Gary Guyer said. “We are 12 back and will need two good rounds to catch Campbell. Mary Alice (Murphy) was the only one that could get anything going today. She is just tenacious.

“Many players complain about something, like fast greens and long rough. She ignores all that and finds a way to get the ball in the hole. She is a solid player.”

Murphy is tied for third place out of the 72 total entrants on the par-72, 6,084-yard course. Murphy had 35 on her first nine holes and then carded a 38 on the in nine for a one-over-par total of 73.

Murphy is just three strokes off the leader (who is at two under).

Teammate Lacey Fears is tied for 16^th place with a 77. Fears got out of the gate fast with an opening nine score of 35 before firing 42 to close out the round. Aurelie Wiriath is tied for 29^th overall with a 79.

Kimmy Graff (39^th place tie) and Sarah Louie Brown (45^th place tie) booked scores of 81 and 82, respectively, to close out Mercer’s team scoring.

The LPGA Invitational continues with 18 holes each on Saturday and Sunday.