The Chattanooga Mocs got off to a good start at the Reynolds Lake Oconee Invitational. The ladies turned in 297 at Great Waters Course to sit in third place after 18 holes.
Makenzie Cooper picked up where she left off in the fall with a 1-under 71 and is one stroke off the lead in second place. Violeta Fernandez-Tagle is also in the top 10, tied for 10th with a 74.
Kera Healey’s 75 is tied for 15th to give the squad a trio among the leaders. Nieves Martin closed the team scoring with 77 as Giulia Foresta’s 80 was the drop tally.
“We were sad to let a few shots slip away at the end of the round but all-in-all, it was a solid day,” Coach Colette Murray shared.
“It was very windy on the back nine. The teams kept their heads down and kept fighting. We are glad we are still in the hunt with two rounds to go.”
The ladies were 6 over at the turn but shaved three shots to reach 3 over through 14. That closing stretch nipped a shot here and there as the counting cards managed one birdie against seven bogeys over the closing stretch.
Host Mercer is in the lead with 294. Delaware is in second at 296 with the Mocs right behind at 297. The Blue Hens Alisa Khokhlova is a shot better than Cooper at 2 under for the individual lead.
Chattanooga takes the tee for Saturday’s second round at 10:40 a.m. Starting on No. 1, Foresta leads with Martin, Healey, Fernandez-Tagle and Cooper to follow. The Mocs are paired with the Bears and Blue Hens.
Reynolds Lake Oconee Invitational
Feb. 23-25 (F-S) | Eatonton, Ga. | 54 holes (18/day)
Great Waters G.C. | Par 72 | 6,107 yards
Lineup
3rd of 13: 297 (+9)
2) Makenzie Cooper: 71 (-1)
T10) Violeta Fernandez-Tagle: 74 (+2)
T15) Kera Healey: 75 (+3)
T38) Nieves Martin: 77 (+5)
T59) Giulia Foresta: 80 (+8)
Field (Top 100 ranking)
(78) Chattanooga, (91) Boston College, Charlette, Cincinnati, (90) Delaware, (88) East Carolina, ETSU, Florida Atlantic, Mercer, Middle Tennessee, South Dakota State, Western Carolina & (65) Western Kentucky