The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
C-USA Championship
Watts Holds First-Round Lead At C-USA Championship
4/23/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
April 23, 2012
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GULF SHORES, Ala. -- UAB sophomore Caitlin Watts fired the best round of her college career by three strokes Monday, posting a 2-under par 70 to lead the field after day one at the 2012 Conference USA Women's Golf Championship.
Watts was one of only two players under par in windy conditions at the Peninsula Golf and Racquet Club as she matched the fourth-best round in UAB women's golf history. The LaGrange, Ga., product is one stroke ahead of Tulsa's Marita Engzelius with 36 holes left to play over the next two days.
After 18 holes, the Blazers are tied with Marshall for eighth place in the 10-team field following a score of 321.
Tulsa leads the team competition with a score of 11-over par 299. Tulane (301) is in second place, followed by UCF (306) in third. All three teams are ranked in the top 40 in the country according to Golfstat.
Watts, who started her round on the back nine with the rest of the UAB team, carded just one bogey on the day. She was even-par through her first 13 holes before back-to-back birdies at the par-3 fifth hole and the par-4 sixth put her in red figures for good.
"Caitlin played steady as usual and she putted very well today," UAB head coach Kim Wilcox said. "She missed a birdie putt by an inch on the last hole that would have put her in the 60s. I'm happy for her because of the way she played and the position she is in after day one."
UAB junior Jaime Ritter is 17th in the field of 50 individual players after a 6-over round of 78. Ritter was 1-over par after her first nine holes before falling back slightly with a 41 on her second nine.
Junior Lindsey Gipson carded an 86 and freshman Holly Robinson shot an 87 to round out the UAB scoring for the day. Freshman Margaret Yeh was disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard but will be able to play again Tuesday with her score eligible to count toward the Blazers' team score.
Watts' previous career-low round was 73, a score she has posted four times this season. She has finished among the top three in three tournaments this year but had never gone as low as she did Monday. Her score of 70 is the best by a UAB player at the conference tournament since teammate Ana Martin carded a 69 in the final round of the 2010 event.
The tournament continues with 18 more holes Tuesday in Gulf Shores with tee times starting at 7:30 a.m. The action then concludes Sunday with the final 18 holes. Live scoring for the entire tournament is available at Golfstat.com.
