US college women's round-up

GEMMA WEBSTER HAS 74 IN

OPENING ROUND OF

MERCEDES CHAMPIONSHIP

Darlington's Ellie Givens (Denver University) and Gemma Webster (Ohio State University), a Hilton Park GC member, had rounds of 70 and 74 respectively in the first round of the Mercedes Benz women's college championship at Cherokee Country Club, Knoxville in Tennessee.

Ireland international Tara Delaney (Kent State University, Ohio) had a 73.

Ellie Givens, the current English girls champion, bogeyed the second but but birdied the fourth and 13th over the 5,932yd, par-71 course to be in joint sixth place, only two shots behind five players sharing the lead on 68.

Tara Delaney had bogeys at the fifth, seventh and 16th but birdied the 17th.

Gemma Webster, pictured above, started at the 10th and bogeyed the 13th and 16th before birdieing the fourth. She finished with bogeys at the sixth and ninth.

Sharing the lead on 68 are Germany's Sandra Gal (Florida University), who has qualified for the LPGA Tour Final Qualifying School, Kathleen Elkey (Alabama), Junthima Gulyanamitta (Purdue), Laura Kueny (Arkansas), Lucy Nunn (Arkansas).

Arkansas (285) lead the team event from Alabama and Tennessee, both on 288.

ANDREA DOWNER JOINT 11th in ARIZONA

Andrea Downer from Surrey, a student at Murray State University and a tournament winner in September, finished joint 11th in a field of 84 for the Lady Indian Classic at Jonesboro Country Club, Jonesboro in Arizona.

Andrea had a pair of 77s over the par-71, 5,926yd course. She finished seven shots behind winner Maggie Welch (McNeese) (74-73). Runner-up was Kelli Warner (Eastern Kentucky) with 74-74.

ANNA SCOTT THIRD AT LUBBOCK, TEXAS

Anna Scott from Consett, Co Durham and Claire Starkie from Skipton, Yorkshire finished third and joint 22nd respectively in the Jeannine McHaney/Audrey Morehead women's college tournament at the Rawls course, Lubbock in Texas.
Both are junior (third year) students at Georgia State University, Anna being given a medical exemption from 2006-2007 counting against the maximum four years allowed as college golfers, due to an elbow injury which ruled her out for the entire college golf season.
Anna had rounds of 76, 72 and 74 for a total of 222 over the par 73, 6,525yd course.
Claire Starkey scored 76, 80 and 79 for 235.
Their efforts helped Georgia State University finish second with a total of 919 behind Texas Tech University (900) in the field of 14 for the team event.
Dominque Pytlewski (Colorado) (77-71-72 for one-over 220) won the individual honours from Megan Dowdy (Texas Tech) (76-71-74) for 221.