UVa Women Grab 10-Shot Lead at ACC Golf Championships

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL – With three Cavaliers occupying the top three spots in the individual standings, the Virginia women’s golf team is in first place in the team standings after the opening round of the 20th Annual Atlantic Coast Conference Women’s Golf Championship on the Legends Course at LPGA International. The Cavaliers are 10 strokes ahead of top-ranked Duke and 12 strokes ahead of Florida State which is in third place in the team standings.

Virginia, which is ranked 22nd in this week’s Golf Week poll, is looking to win its first ever ACC championship in the sport of women’s golf. The Cavaliers finished as the runner-up team in this event in 2006. Virginia carded a 4-under 284 team total – its best of the fall 2007 and spring 2008 seasons. Duke, the nation’s No. 1 ranked team, has won the last 12 ACC women’s golf championships. The Blue Devils finished with a team total of 292.

“We have worked all year in every aspect – fitness, playing to field and practicing to play in this championship,” said Virginia Head Coach Kim Lewellen. “We are thrilled to be in this position after one day. This field is extremely strong and we are honored to be in this position.”

Two freshmen topped UVa’s first-day charge.

First-year Joy Kim shot 3-under 69, her best single-round score as a collegiate. She finished with 17 holes at par or better with four birdies. After a birdie on her second hole, she played the final 17 holes under par and was as many as four strokes under. Calle Nelson is in second place in the individual standings after carding a two-under par score of 70. That equals her best 18-hole score this season. She was never over and was as many as two strokes under par during her first 18 holes. Jennie Arseneault is in a tie for third place as she carded a one-under par 71.

Whitney Neuhauser shot 2-over 74 and is in 11th place while Lene Krog finished 32nd with a 78.

“Every aspect of my game was really good today,” said Kim. “My shots could have been better but I am satisfied with my round. I am also glad that the team did well today. My putting was good today; I had 26 putts. My ball stroking could have been better today – that’s what I am going to work on for tomorrow.”

Duke’s Jennifer Pandolfi is in a tie for third place with Arseneault and Natalie Sheary of Wake Forest with one-under par scores of 71. Duke’s Amanda Blumenherst, the No. 1 ranked individual in the nation, is in a tie for eighth place with a two-over par score of 73.

The tournament continues Saturday at 8 a.m. and Sunday at 7:30 a.m. Live scoring is online at Golfstat.com

ACC Championship
LPGA International Legends Course
Daytona Beach, FL
Par-72, 6,315 yards
First Round Results

Team Results
1. Virginia 284
2. Duke 294
3. Florida State 296
4. NC State 299
4. Wake Forest 299
6. Miami 300
7. North Carolina 304
8. Maryland 307
9. Boston College 321

Individual Leaders
1. Joy Kim, Virginia 69
2. Calle Nielson, Virginia 70
3. Jennie Arseneault, Virginia 71
3. Jennifer Pandolfi, Duke 71
3. Natalie Sheary, Wake Forest 71
6. Emily Street, NC State 72
6. Caroline Westrup, Florida State 72
8. Amanda Blumenherst, Duke 73
8. Christina Hirano, Miami 73
8. Hagen Weintraub, Miami 73

Virginia
1. Joy Kim 69
2. Calle Nielson 70
3. Jennie Arseneault 71
11. Whitney Neuhauser 74
32. Lene Krog 78