Falcons Shoot 305 in First Round at Great Smokies

Monday, September 19

Waynesville, N.C.

All Day

Bowling Green State University

Great Smokies Intercollegiate

September 19, 2011 | Women's Golf

By: by Matthew Daley, Athletic Communications Intern

ROUND 1 STATS (.pdf) --- ROUND 2 PAIRINGS (.pdf)

WAYNESVILLE, N.C. -- Four Falcons are in the top half of the field and the team posted its best round of the young season as the Bowling Green State University women's golf team finished 15th after the first 18 holes of the 2011 Great Smokies Intercollegiate on Monday (Sept. 19).

Bowling Green shot 305 as a team. The team eclipsed that mark only twice during the 2010-11 season, and one of those rounds was at the 2010 version of this event. The Falcons are two shots behind three teams (Alabama-Birmingham, Appalachian State and Newberry) that are tied for 12th. They lead Northwood (Fla.) and Tennessee Tech by one stroke. Tournament host Western Carolina (290) leads the 23-team field.

Senior Paula DiFrancesco shot a pair of 37s on the front and back nines to finish the round with a team-leading 74. Ten players are tied for 13th, one shot ahead of DiFrancesco, while another six are two shots ahead in a tie for seventh.

DiFrancesco's career-best round also continues a history of personal success at the Great Smokies tournament. Last year, she carded rounds of 75 and 78 in Waynesville -- her two best rounds of the season.

Three players are tied for 58th after earning individual rounds of 77. Bailey Arnold shot 36 on the front nine, while Shelby Wilson matched that on the back nine. Amy Ruthenberg posted half-round totals of 37 and 40. Each are in the top half of the field, which totals 124 players.

Freshman Patricia Holt ended the first day of play with an 80.

Falcon golfers tee off in Tuesday's final round at 9:00 a.m., with DiFrancesco starting on the ninth tee. Wilson and Arnold begin on the tenth hole. Ruthenberg and Holt play from the 11th and 12th tees, respectively.

Final results and a complete recap will be available at BGSUFalcons.com after the conclusion of Tuesday's play.