The Lee men’s golf team will be trying to make up an 11-stroke deficit when it enters the final 18 holes of play at the TVA Credit Union Invitational being hosted by the University of North Alabama.
Playing at the Turtle Point Yacht & Country Club, North Alabama and Columbus State are deadlocked for top honors after blistering the tough 7,133 yard course with 4-under 569 totals. Henderson State (Ark.) holds down third place after a team total of 585. The Flames are 7-over after rounds of 291-295 – 586. Harding University (Ark.) rounds out the top five in the 14-team field after posting 589.
Lee senior Adam Wright is very much in the hunt for the 54-hole medalist honors. He turned in scores of 71-70 – 141 (3-under) and is tied for third place with Alex Williamson of Harding. North Alabama’s Forrest Knight is the medalist leader after a sparkling 6-under 138. His teammate Austin Sparks is in second place with a 4-under 140. Columbus State’s Gideon van Der Vyver rounds out the top five in the field of 74 players with a 143.
Lee’s Shea Sylvester put together rounds of 71-74 – 145 and is tied for 10th. Matt Johnson followed with 74-75 – 149, good enough for a spot in the top 25, while Corey Sheppard recorded a 75-78 and teammate Dylan Lillard came up with a 77-76 and both are deadlocked for a tie at 36th place (153).
Lee University women’s golf team will be nine strokes off the lead when the final round of play begins in the LeeAnn Noble Memorial being hosted by the University of North Georgia.
Montevallo University (Ala.) is the first round leader after posting a 4-over 292 team score on Monday. The Lady Flames are in second place in the 13-team field after finishing with a 301 total. UNC Pembroke (302), West Alabama (304) and host North Georgia (305) round out the top five teams.
Sam Burrus and freshman Annika Gino set the pace for the Lady Flames, tallying 1-under 71 and are tied with four other players for fourth place in the medalist competition. Savannah Payne of West Alabama and Elaine Wood (Montevallo) are tied for the top spot in the medalist hunt (69). Ashlii Thompson turned in a 70 and holds a three-stroke advantage over Burrus.
Annika’s sister Cailey turned in a 5-over 77, while Caroline Moore finished at 78 and Anne Hedegaard rounded out the Lee scoring for the day with an 80.
PHOTO ID: Cailey Gino chips out of the sand. She fired a 5-over 77 in the opening round of the LeeAnn Noble Memorial