HOWEY IN THE HILLS – The central Florida weather wasn't pretty on Friday as 17 teams began play in the University of Cincinnati Bearcats Spring Classic, and many of the golfers paid the price. At the of the day, Akron and Cincinnati were the only teams to break 320, and Florida Southern was one of 10 schools separated by only six strokes in the #3 through #12 positions in the standings.
Thunder storms swept across most of the state on Friday and at one point in the afternoon, play was stopped to ride out the weather. Once play resumed at the Mission Inn Resort, Akron was able to re-claim the lead from host Cincinnati and take a one-shot lead (313-314) with two rounds remaining. The Zips had one of the tournament individual leaders too in Danielle Nicholson, who shot a one-over par 73, but still had no one else with better than a 77, and had to count an 85. Cincinnati's best score was a 76, but the Bearcats closed the gap by counting an 81.
Seminole State (FL) was in third place, trailing Akron by eight shots, Georgia Southern was fourth while trailing by nine, and Morehead State and Jacksonville were tied for fifth, 10 shots off the pace.
Only 14 of the 104 golfers competing broke 80, and the two teams at the top combined for five of them. Two others in that group of 14 were Anna Mikish of Oklahoma City, who was tied for first with Nicholson at one-over par 73, and Cynthia Bounleutay of Seminole State who was third with a 75.
Florida Southern was already off the course before the round was suspended with senior Kit Creighton the Moccasins' top golfer with an 80. Two shots behind her were senior Colleen Panosian and redshirt junior Shannon McKew, followed by sophomore Abbey Williams with an 83 and fifth-year senior Emma Marlatt with an 84. Freshman Tori Higgins was playing as an individual and turned in an 86.
The Moccasins though were much stronger on the back nine where their four counters combined to go 11-over, led by Creighton and McKew who were each at +2. Only Nova Southeastern at +10 was better than Florida Southern over the final nine holes.
Creighton was also even for her last five holes and birdied the par-5 No. 17. Panosian put together the Mocs' most impressive run of the day by parring eight consecutive holes from 9 through 16. It was that type of finish that allowed the Moccasins to finish the day only four shots out of the top-five even with their 12th-place standing.
The Moccasins were just one shot behind Grand Canyon, Oklahoma City and Dartmouth and two behind Marshall and Nova Southeastern.
Creighton's 80 put her in a tie for 15th place, seven strokes behind Nicholson and level with Mailen Domec Chantry of Nova Southeastern, the only other Division II team competing along with Florida Southern. Panosian and McKew were tied for 39th, Williams was tied for 49th, Marlatt was tied for 59th, and Higgins was tied for 79th.
The second round of the Bearcats Spring Classic is scheduled to get underway Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m., with the final round set for Sunday at 8 a.m.
