Excellent First Day Exhibits How A-Sun Women's Golf Is Marching Forward

For some time now the talk has begun to grow louder as to how the A-Sun and its golf is getting better and better. Last year the record for the final team score in the A-Sun Women's Golf Championship was broken, not once but three times, as each of the top three finishers bested the previous high mark. This year ETSU’s first-round score of 287 is three strokes better than its first round score in last year’s championship, which was the best team round posted during the entire tournament.

Individually, 18 of the top 25 scorers from last year’s championship also return to battle again, including Jacksonville’s Jessica Welch and ETSU’s Sian Evans. Today the duo both fired a 67 to match the championship’s low round. And let’s not forget defending champ Gabriella Wahl (ETSU), who also shot a first-round 67 last season and claimed the individual title as a freshman, scoring a birdie on the third hole of a playoff with Mercer’s Lacey Fears. She has continued her solid play for ETSU this season, as have many from last year’s championship.

Fifteen of Monday’s Top-20 played in last year’s championship, and this year’s Top-5 is comprised of players who also finished from first to 20th last year.

So what list of accomplishments does this experienced group of 18 golfers bring into the upcoming championship? To name a few:

• Two individual tournament titles (Lacey Fears, Sammi Smith)

• 17 Top-10 finishes

• 47 Top-25 finishes

• 20 of the 27 low scores of 2012-13

• 19 under-par rounds, including a pair of 67s, the season low

• The six lowest stroke averages

• 11 Golfer of the Week accolades

Outside of the championship, A-Sun women’s golf has also begun to attract attention. Three teams (ETSU, Kennesaw State, Mercer) have been ranked in the Top 100 by GolfWeek and Golfstat all season. Plus, the conference has four team wins (ETSU, Mercer -2 and Stetson) and three individual wins (Georgia Price – FGCU, Lacey Fears – Mercer, and Sammi smith – Stetson) to its credit as well. And

Compare last year’s results to the championship history, compare last year’s first round action to this year’s and you can see that the A-Sun is growing and excelling in the sports of women’s golf. With very few seniors on this year’s field, a younger but experienced field is sure to bring more excitement as the 2013 A-Sun championship moves into round two on Tuesday.