Women's Golf | 4/14/2023 9:03:00 PM

SOUTHPORT, N.C. – The North Carolina A&T women's golf team's first time playing in the Colonial Athletic Association championships occurred on Friday, with the Aggies finishing in an eighth-place tie at the par-72, 6,013-yard Reserve Course at St. James. 

Charleston's 7-over 295 leads the tournament over UNC Wilmington's 296 to put the defending champions in front through 18 holes. Delaware is five shots off the lead, with Towson (305) and Elon (306) rounding out the top 5 on the first day. The Aggies shot an 18-hole 44-over 332. 

A&T's lowest score on the day came from senior Jayla Rogers. She shot a 7-over 79 to finish in a four-way tie for 22nd. She had one birdie on the round, a three on the par-4, 367-yard No. 5. She carded 12 pars on Friday. Rogers' card also included a triple bogey, a double bogey and four bogeys. 

Rogers is 10 shots off the lead behind Day 1 leader, UNCW's Phu Khine. Khine shot a 3-under 69 to lead the tournament by two strokes over College of Charleston's Emma Schrimpf. UNCW's Mallory Fobes and Delaware's Anna Kittelson carded even par 72s to finish in a tied for third. Charleston's Anna Kittelson rounds out the top 5 with a 2-over 74. 

Kennedi Lee shot an 11-over 83 to finish in a five-way tie for 33rd. Lee's card included 11 bogeys and seven pars. Victoria Stutts and Vileska Gelpi are in 38th and 39th, respectively, after Stutts shot an 84 and Gelpi shot an 86. Kiaira Porter shot an 87 in the first round. 

Second-round action from St. James begins at 8:30 a.m. Saturday with Hofstra, A&T, and William & Mary beginning the morning. Monmouth, Elon, and Towson will start play at 9:20 a.m., while the top three teams in the standings – Charleston, UNCW, and Delaware – will see their first players tee off at 10:10 a.m.