HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (March 15, 2024) – With three Buccaneers sitting inside the top-five, the ETSU women's golf team holds the first round lead at the Low Country Intercollegiate, which got underway on Friday from Moss Creek Golf Club in Hilton Head Island.
 
The Bucs are led by Sophie Bert as she's tied for the lead at even-par 72, while Grace Chin and Brianna Castaldi are tied for fourth at 2-over-par 74. Bert used a strong finish to move to the top of the leaderboard. After starting off with three straight bogeys and sitting four-over through her first 10 holes, Bert finished the round with four birdies over her final six holes to post the 72. Bert registered three straight birdies from No. 4-6 and then ended her run with a birdie on the par-4, 361-yard No. 8. Overall, Bert collected five birdies on the round, which was tied for the most on the day with Chin.
 
As a team, the Blue & Gold collected the most birdies on the day with 16 en route to finishing the round at 11-over-par 299. ETSU holds a two-shot lead over Richmond (+13) and a seven-stroke advantage over Western Carolina (+20). Wofford, the tournament host, is in fourth at 22-over-par 310, while Boston U. and Gardner-Webb are tied for fifth at 24-over-par 312.
 
To go with the most birdies on the round, ETSU also led the 16-team field in par-3 scoring (even-par) and par-five scoring (+6).
 
Bert is tied with Richmond's Rory Weinfurther.  
 
Chin got off to a strong start as she was two-under through her first seven holes, but a three-hole stretch quickly moved her back to over-par on the day. Chin posted back-to-back bogeys followed by a double-bogey from No. 18-No. 2, putting her at two-over. Chin bounced back with back-to-back birdies on No. 3 and No. 4, before giving the shots back with bogeys on No. 5 and No. 6. Chin finished the day with three consecutive pars.
 
ETSU's other countable score came from Amber Thornton as she's tied for 31st at 7-over-par 79.
 
The Bucs will be grouped with Richmond and Western Carolina in Saturday's second round. ETSU tees off starting at 10 a.m.
 
Fans can follow live scoring via GolfStat.com.
 
For more information on Buccaneer women's golf, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the women's golf page.