SAINT HELENA ISLAND, S.C. – Longwood women's golf is in fifth following the first round of the Big South Championship on Sunday afternoon.
 
Chiara Wippert and Madison Lehr led the way for the Lancers, with the duo tied for 10^th out of 45 players on the par 72 course at the Ocean Creek GCS at Fripp Island Resort.
 
NOTABLE RESULTS:
 
The Lancers are fifth, five strokes behind Gardner-Webb in fourth place. Longwood is only six shots back of both Winthrop and Radford, who are tied for second. High Point leads the tournament and is 17 strokes ahead of the Lancers, who shot a 310 (+22).
 
Wippert recorded a 75 (+3) and had a trio of birdies over the round. She opened with one and also closed with one in her final three holes to tie for 10^th.
 
Lehr was at her best over her final nine holes, and she finished the back nine one-under to record a 75 (+3). She had both of her birdies on the back nine to finish tied with Wippert for 10^th.
 
Abigail Sheldon also played her best golf in her final nine holes, which she played at two-under. She birdied back-to-back-to-back holes in that run to finish the day with a 78 (+6), which tied for 20^th.
 
Avery Nordman sits in 34^th following her first round after an 82 (+10), and Caroline Tragesser is tied for 41^st following an 86 (+14).

WHAT THEY SAID:

"Other than Chiara, we got off to a rocky start," said Longwood Head Coach Megan Weaver. "Granted, we started on the toughest stretch of holes on the course, but I think the extra adrenaline of this being conference, layered with the expectation of being the third seed, got us away from staying present, committing to shots, and swinging confidently. I changed up my strategy on the back and stayed with Abigail for the back nine; she really turned her round around! That's the momentum we all need to take into tomorrow."
 
FULL RESULTS:
 
1. High Point: 293 (+5)
T2. Radford: 304 (+16)
T2. Winthrop: 304 (+16)
4. Gardner-Webb: 305 (+17)
5. Longwood: 310 (+22)
6. Charleston Southern: 312 (+24)
7. UNC Asheville: 314 (+26)
8. Presbyterian: 315 (+27)
9. USC Upstate: 325 (+37)
 
T10. Chiara Wippert: 75 (+3)
T10. Madison Lehr: 75 (+3)
T20. Abigail Sheldon: 78 (+6)
34. Avery Nordman: 82 (+10)
T41. Caroline Tragesser: 86 (+14)
 
UP NEXT:
 
Longwood tees off for the second round on Monday morning. Live scoring is available on Scoreboard.
 
#GoWood #HorsePower