April 9, 2007

HORSESHOE BAY, Tex. - Two-time defending champion Lamar University has a one-stroke lead at the 2007 Southland Conference Women's Golf Championship after round one of the 54-hole event. The Lady Cardinals lead second-place Texas State by the slimmest of margins and just three strokes separate the top four teams in the standings.

Play resumes Tuesday at 8 a.m. at the Ram Rock Course of the Horseshoe Bay Resort. The final 18 holes will be contested on Wednesday.

Lamar, which has won three of the last four SLC tournaments, is led by sophomore Therese Nilsson, who carded an even-par 71 on day one. She has a two-stroke lead over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's Mary Betancourt, who turned in a 73 at her first SLC Tournament. Nilsson is the defending individual medalist of the event, winning in 2006 with a 227 (78-75-74).

McNeese State's Tinna Johannsdottir sits third among the individuals with a plus-three 74 in round one. Five players are tied for fourth at four over par, including 2005 SLC medalist Hillary Zeigler of Lamar.

The Lady Cardinals posted a 22-over-par round of 306, followed by Texas State at 307, Sam Houston State in third with a 308 and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in fourth at 309. Fifth-place McNeese State is nine strokes behind the Islanders.

Central Arkansas (319), Texas-San Antonio (327) and Nicholls (337) fill out the remaining tournament field.

Daniele Dunlop leads all Lady Colonel golfers tied for 18th place after carding an 80 in the first round. Natalie Robinson (81) follows in a tie for 22nd place, while Jessica Marquart (87) is tied for 35th place. Theunette Van der Walt (89) is tied for 37th place and Emiley Patton (94) finished the first round in 40th place.

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