Feb. 17, 2008

Miami, Fla. - The Southern Miss women's golf team shot an opening round 326 to sit in 12th-place after 18 holes of the Qdoba Invitational hosted by the University of Miami (Fla.). The tournament is being played at the Don Shula Resort.

Freshman Virginia Espejo and Jennifer Judge lead each shot eight-over par 80 to tie for 40th-place. Sophomore Samantha Holt is tied for 47th after shooting an 81. Juniors Heather Golden and Kate Burns round out the Lady Eagles by shooting an 85 to sit in a tie for 59th-place.

Jessica Steward of Miami and Grace Thiry of Kansas are tied for the lead by shooting a one-under 71. Louisville's Cindy LaCrosse and Amber Littman of East Carolina are tied for third with a one-over 73.

East Carolina leads the team scoring with an eight-over par 296. Louisville and Miami are tied for second with 300 strokes, while San Jose State sits in fourth with 302 strokes.

There's a four-way tie for fifth-place, with Kansas, Kentucky, South Florida and Virginia all sitting with 307 strokes. New Mexico State is in ninth with 314 strokes, followed by Mississippi State at 317, Coastal Carolina at 322, and Southern Miss at 326.

Southern Miss returns to play tomorrow for Round Two. Play begins with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m.