April 13, 2007
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -
Kate Stepanek fired a 2-over-par 74 Friday to lead University of Maryland golfers after the opening round of the 2007 Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Golf Championship being played at the Carmel Country Club.
As a team, Maryland finished the day in seventh place with a team total of 312. The Terrapins were six shots behind NC State and 12 shots behind North Carolina in the middle of the pack. Top-ranked and defending champion Duke posted a 1-under-par team score of 287 to lead by three strokes after the first round.
Stepanek, a senior from Guilford, Conn., was one of the few players in the field who had a strong back nine. She had two birdies and two bogeys en route to a 36 on the tough back nine and earn her 74. That score tied her for ninth in the individual standings.
Also for Maryland, Kelly Calkin was tied for 23rd after a 77. She turned the front in even-par 36 on her round. Jessica Reno had a 79 and tied for 28th, while Kelly MacWhinnie shot an 82 and tied for 34th with Katie Trotter tied for 37th after an opening-round 83.
Florida State's Caroline Westrup blistered the Carmel CC course with a 6-under-par 66 to take the first-round lead in the individual standings. She led by two strokes over Rachel Smith of Virginia. Duke players were in the next three positions, led by top-ranked Amanda Blumenherst, who shot an opening-round 70. All five Blue Devils were among the top 17 finishers on Friday.
The field for the ACC Championship is one of the strongest in all of college golf. Seven league teams are among the top 55 in the nation in the latest Golfweek.com rankings, with the Terps at No. 55. The Blue Devils lead that group with a No. 2 ranking, behind only Arizona State.
Maryland will tee off in the early group of tee times on Saturday. The Terrapins will begin play in the second round at 8:30 a.m. and will be paired with Miami and Boston College.
The 54-hole tournament wraps up on Sunday, with live coverage available on the Internet at ACC Select.
TEAM STANDINGS
1. Duke 287; 2. Florida State 290; T3. Wake Forest; T3. Virginia; 5. North Carolina 300; 6. NC State 306; 7. Maryland 312; 8. Miami 325; 9. Boston College 344.
MARYLAND SCORES
T9. Kate Stepanek 38-36--74; T23. Kelly Calkin 36-41--77; T28. Jessica Reno 39-40--79; T34. Kelly MacWhinnie 38-44--82; T37. Katie Trotter 41-42--83.
