By: By Al Barba
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STOCKBRIDGE, Ga. – Led by junior
Kaew Preamchuen, the Kennesaw State women's golf team endured difficult playing conditions to post a 17-over par 305 during the first round of the John Kirk Panther Intercollegiate that opened Sunday at the par-72, 6,164-yard Eagle's Landing Country Club in Stockbridge, Ga.
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Despite high winds and cool temperatures, Preamchuen carded a 1-over par 73 and is currently tied for third, two shots off the lead that is held by Georgia's Amira Alexander, who posted a 1-under par 71. Alexander is the lone player to post a sub-par round and has a one-shot advantage over Georgia State's Maria Palacios (72).
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"The conditions today were hard and it was windy, but my putter was working well and I holed a lot of seven-footers," Preamchuen said. "I had a lot of downhill puts and the greens were quick. I wasn't expecting them to be quick because the practice greens were slow."
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After a difficult opening nine that resulted in a 5-over par 41, junior
Ines Lescudier righted her round on the back nine, recording a 2-under par 34 to finish with a 3-over par 75 and is tied for ninth. Following a bogey on her 11th hole, Lescudier played her final seven holes at 3-under par as she strung together consecutive birdies on holes 13 through 15.
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"Today was tough. There were gusting winds I think they said up to 40 miles an hour which we felt all day," Kennesaw State head coach
Rhyll Brinsmead said. "It was cold this morning and it warmed up. I think the team handled the conditions very well. We talked about it a little bit yesterday that today is not going to be the day to win the tournament but to hang tough and get off to a good start.
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"Obviously I am very proud of Ines' finish, coming home with three birdies in the last six holes, and Kaew was just steady all day as she made a lot of putts," Brinsmead added. "I think we hung in there pretty well."
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Georgia State currently leads the 16-team field with a 12-over par total of 300 and holds a four-shot advantage over Campbell and Troy. Both teams are at 16-over par 304.
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Redshirt junior
Hayley Clinning posted a 6-over par 78 and is tied for 27th, while freshmen
Laura Estefenn (79) and
Dulcie Sverdloff (81) are tied for 34th and 51st, respectively.
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The John Kirk Panther Intercollegiate continues on Monday beginning at 8 a.m. (ET) The Owls are grouped with Elon and Old Dominion and are scheduled to begin their second round at 8:45 a.m. (ET). All the action can be followed live on the internet at
www.golfstatresults.com.
Keep up with Owls women's golf by following KSU on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsWmnsGolf or by liking Kennesaw State Owls on Facebook.
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