Women lead after first round
10/6/2014 7:12:00 PM | Women's Golf
HUNTSVILLE -- The Sam Houston State men's and women's golf teams both sit in first place after the first round of the SHSU Harold Funston Intercollege at Raven Nest Golf Club.
Play was suspended for a two hour weather delay Monday morning before the first round could be finished. The second round will be completed Tuesday starting at 8:30 a.m. before playing the final round.
“I think the weather delay was good for us,” Bearkat head coach Brandt Kieschnick said. “We didn't get off to a great start this morning. But it made things tougher and we finished our round pretty strong. I see it as a positive in that it gave us a chance to regroup.”
The Bearkat men are led by senior Zach Cabra, who fired a 69 in the first round. He sits alone in first place and is one stroke ahead of Tyler Junior College's Calvin Lackey and Western Texas CC's Elliott Fullalove. Cabra won the event last season with three rounds under 70.
Senior Alisa White is tied for second place to lead the SHSU women. She fired a first-round 72 and is one stroke back of Western Texas CC's Devanshi Naik. White finished tied for fourth last season.
Hot on the heels of the Bearkat men is Tyler JC, just one stroke back. Abilene Christian is third, Western Texas is fourth, Nicholls State is fifth, Incarnate Word and Texas-Pan American are tied for sixth, Texas Southern is eighth and St. Thomas is ninth.
Western Texas is eight strokes back of the Bearkat women, while Southland foe Houston Baptist sits in third place. League member A&M-Corpus and Tyler JC are tied for fourth, Texas-Pan American is sixth, Texas Southern is seventh and St. Thomas is eighth.
“I'm happy that both teams are leading. The men made a few mistakes but I'm glad we have the lead. The women have a 10-stroke lead and I'm really proud of the way they've played and I'm looking forward to the next two rounds,” said Kieschnick.
Senior Logan Boatner is the only other Bearkat in the top-10. After a first-round 72 Boatner sits tied for seventh. Senior JT Taylor (73) and sophomore Klein Klotz (74) both sit inside the top-15 after the first round. Sophomore Andrew Ertel is tied for 21st after shooting a 76 in the first round.
Three Bearkat men are competing as individuals. Senior Dennis Reiner is tied for 13th after firing a 74, freshman Jake McCrory is tied for 36th after a 79 and senior Andrew Johnson is tied for 45th after an 82.
Sophomore Paige Nelson, who has gotten the season off to a great start, is tied for fifth after a first-round 73. The league's golfer of the month for September has finished in the top-10 in every tournament so far.
Freshman Sarah Black sits tied for fifth with Nelson. Junior Nicole Budnik is tied for ninth after firing a 74 and sophomore Celeste Lo is tied for 11th after a 75. Junior Abigayle Corson, who is competing as an individual, is tied for 18th with a 78 in the first round.
