University of Tennessee Athletics
Monday, October 28
Nassau, Bahamas | Ocean Club
All Day
University of Tennessee
at
White Sands Invitational
Smith Leads Lady Vols at White Sands Invitational
October 28, 2019 | Women's Golf
Tennessee sits in 11th after the opening round of the White Sands Invitational in Nassau, Bahamas
NASSAU, Bahamas – After the opening round of the White Sands Invitational on Monday, junior Mariah Smith leads the Tennessee women's golf team on the leaderboard.
Smith carded a team-low 73 (+1) in the first round of the competition and is tied for 27th on the individual leaderboard entering Tuesday's second round of play.
The junior kept a clean scorecard for most of the round as she tied for the team lead with 13 pars for the round. She was also able to find two birdies at the Ocean Club with her first of the day coming on the par-4 15th while also pouring one in on the par-4 first.
She ended the day at 1-under in all of the par-4 holes and is one of just 11 players in the field to be under par on the par-4 holes.
Just one stroke back of Smith sit three Lady Vol players at 2-over-par. This included sophomore Hadley Walts who is playing the tournament as an individual.
Walts tied for the team high with four birdies on the day. She birdied three of the four par-5 holes on the course. Her score of 3-under-par on par-5 holes is the best in the field.
Joining Walts at 2-over-par are sophomore Mikayla Bardwell and junior Waverly Whiston. Whiston tied for the team lead with four birdies in the opening round with all four coming in a stretch of eight holes.
Tennessee, who sits in 11th as a team, is scheduled to tee off the second round Tuesday at 8 a.m. ET between holes No. 10 and 13. The Lady Vols will be paired with North Texas (+7) and Tulane (+11) who are tied for fourth and sixth, respectively.
Coach's Take
On Mariah Smith being added into the lineup:
"Mariah is a fighter on the course and really gives her best. She isn't hitting it her best, but she got a lot out of her game to lead the team." – Coach Judi Pavon
On adjustments heading into the second round:
"We did not putt very well today, so we need to make our putts of five feet and in. We played the hardest holes well, but need to take better advantage of the par fives tomorrow." -- Coach Judi Pavon
Day One Scores:
Team
Tennessee Team
Tennessee Individual
Smith carded a team-low 73 (+1) in the first round of the competition and is tied for 27th on the individual leaderboard entering Tuesday's second round of play.
The junior kept a clean scorecard for most of the round as she tied for the team lead with 13 pars for the round. She was also able to find two birdies at the Ocean Club with her first of the day coming on the par-4 15th while also pouring one in on the par-4 first.
She ended the day at 1-under in all of the par-4 holes and is one of just 11 players in the field to be under par on the par-4 holes.
Just one stroke back of Smith sit three Lady Vol players at 2-over-par. This included sophomore Hadley Walts who is playing the tournament as an individual.
Walts tied for the team high with four birdies on the day. She birdied three of the four par-5 holes on the course. Her score of 3-under-par on par-5 holes is the best in the field.
Joining Walts at 2-over-par are sophomore Mikayla Bardwell and junior Waverly Whiston. Whiston tied for the team lead with four birdies in the opening round with all four coming in a stretch of eight holes.
Tennessee, who sits in 11th as a team, is scheduled to tee off the second round Tuesday at 8 a.m. ET between holes No. 10 and 13. The Lady Vols will be paired with North Texas (+7) and Tulane (+11) who are tied for fourth and sixth, respectively.
Coach's Take
On Mariah Smith being added into the lineup:
"Mariah is a fighter on the course and really gives her best. She isn't hitting it her best, but she got a lot out of her game to lead the team." – Coach Judi Pavon
On adjustments heading into the second round:
"We did not putt very well today, so we need to make our putts of five feet and in. We played the hardest holes well, but need to take better advantage of the par fives tomorrow." -- Coach Judi Pavon
Day One Scores:
Team
| 1 | Texas | -12 (276) |
| 2 | Arkansas | -5 (283) |
| 3 | Houston | -1 (287) |
| 4 | Clemson | E (288) |
| 5 | Georgia | +1 (289) |
| 6 | Baylor | +3 (291) |
| 7 | Ohio State | +5 (293) |
| 8 | Mississippi State | +6 (294) |
| T9 | Oklahoma | +7 (295) |
| T9 | North Texas | +7 (295) |
| 11 | Tennessee | +8 (296) |
| T12 | Tulane | +11 (299) |
| T12 | SMU | +11 (299) |
| 14 | New Mexico | +12 (300) |
Tennessee Team
| Mariah Smith | T27 | 73 (+1) |
| Mikayla Bardwell | T35 | 74 (+2) |
| Waverly Whiston | T35 | 74 (+2) |
| Nicole Whiston | T42 | 75 (+3) |
| Micheala Williams | T64 | 77 (+5) |
Tennessee Individual
| Hadley Walts | T35 | 74 (+2) |
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
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