Sept. 21, 2012

Franklin, Tenn. --- Playing with no margin for error, the Georgia women's golf team put up a solid 13-over 301 in the opening round of the Mason Rudolph Championship at the Vanderbilt Legends Club on Friday. The Bulldogs are fifth in a field that includes nine Golfweek preseason top-25 teams.

Traditionally, a squad includes five golfers, with the low four scores from each round comprising the team tally. However, freshman Sylvie Brick withdrew from the tournament on Friday morning due to an infected blister on her right hand. That means Georgia will be without a "drop score" all weekend.

"She tried to play in the practice round yesterday and it got to where she really couldn't even grip a club," head coach Josh Brewer said. "I feel for Sylvie. I know she's extremely disappointed. She missed her chance to open her collegiate career and her parents flew down from Chicago for the weekend."

Still, the Bulldogs are just seven shots off the lead and three strokes from second.

"We're fine," Brewer said. "What were dealing with – playing with only four golfers – to put a number up and be in contention after day one is all you could really ask for. This course is a great test of golf and I only think the conditions are going to get harder as we go through the weekend. That suits us. I believe we're tough enough and mentally strong enough to handle adverse conditions."

For Georgia, Emilie Burger and Rocio Sanchez Lobato both shot even-par 72s, Kailey Walsh carded a 77 and Collins Bradshaw shot 80.

On the individual leader board, Burger and Walsh are tied for fourth but just a single shot behind co-leaders Olafia Kristindottir of Wake Forest, Briana Mao of Virginia and Caroline Powers of Michigan State. Walsh is tied for 37th and Bradshaw is tied for 66th.

Sanchez Lobato turned at even after birdies at No. 6 and No. 9 and bogeys at No. 2 and No. 8. A solid back nine featured a birdie at No. 11 and a bogey at No. 14.

Burger was 3-over at the turn following bogeys at No. 1, No. 4 and No. 7. She gained a stroke back with a birdie at No. 12 but relinquished it with a bogey at No. 15. Burger closed with birdies at No. 16, No. 17 and No. 18 to get to even-par for the only time all day.

"Ro was solid all day from start to finish," Brewer said. "Burger struggled early but closed like you would expect an All-American to close out her round. Hopefully, that momentum will carry over for her and spread to the rest of the team tomorrow. She showed us what we can do if we hit it well."

Texas grabbed a four-shot lead with a 6-over 294. Rounding out the top-10 teams are Arizona at 298, Kentucky at 299, Virginia at 300, the Bulldogs at 301, the trio of Texas A&M, Michigan and Stanford all at 302, Wake Forest at 303 and Oregon at 305.

The Bulldogs will be paired with Virginia and Texas A&M in Saturday's second round, teeing off beginning at 9:45 am ET. Three-hole updates of live scoring from the event can be found at www.golfstat.com.

Mason Rudolph Championship
Vanderbilt Legends Club
Franklin, Tenn.
Par 72; 6312 Yards

Friday's First-Round Standings

Team Leaderboard
Texas                   294
Arizona                 298
Kentucky                299
Virginia                300
Georgia                 301
Texas A&M               302
Michigan State          302
Stanford                302
Wake Forest             303
Vanderbilt              304
Oregon                  305
Tulane                  309
North Carolina          310
Chattanooga             311
Memphis                 321

Individual Leaderboard
Olafia Kristindottir, Wake Forest  71
Briana Mao, Virginia               71
Caroline Powers, Michigan St.      71
Ashleigh Albrecht, Kentucky        72
Emilie Burger, Georgia             72
Lauren Kim, Stanford               72
Rocio Sanchez Lobato, Georgia      72
Tezira Abe, Texas                  73
Desiree Dubreuil, Texas            73
Casey Grice, North Carolina        73
Cassy Isagawa, Oregon              73
Kendall Prince, Arizona            73
Katelyn Sepmoree, Texas            73

Additional Georgia Scores
T37. Kailey Walsh, Georgia         77
T66. Collins Bradshaw, Georgia     80
     Sylvie Brick Georgia          WD