Big East Conference

CALLAWASSIE ISLAND, S.C. – Georgetown holds a seven-stroke lead after the first day of competition at the 2017 BIG EAST Women’s Golf Championship Presented by Jeep at the Callawassie Island Golf Club.  The Hoyas compiled a team score of eight-over-par 296.  St. John’s is in second place at 303 (+15).  Butler owns third place with a score of 309 (+21).  Defending champion Seton Hall is fourth at 315 (+21) followed by Xavier at 316 (+28) and Creighton at 318 (+30).

The team winner of the BIG EAST Championship receives an automatic berth to the NCAA Championship. 

Individually, the golfers in the day’s final group finished as the top three leaders.  Junior Cassie Pantelas of Seton Hall is first after shooting a one-under-par 71.  Sophomore Alexa Popowitz of Georgetown carded an even-par 72 and freshman Kaitleen Shee of St. John’s had a 73 (+1).   Pantelas shot a 34 on the back nine, which included an eagle on the par-5 11^th hole and birdies on 16 and 17.

Georgetown, the team runner-up in each of the past three seasons to Seton Hall, has four golfers among the top eight.  In addition to Popowitz, junior Lauren Gros is alone in fourth place with a 74 (+2).  Junior Jacquelyn Eleey and freshman Ashley Fitzgibbons are Hoyas locked in a four-way tie for fifth at 75 (+3) with St. John’s senior Saskia Sterud and Butler freshman Betsy Werner.   

Butler junior Abigail Gleixner is in ninth place after carding a four-over-par 76.  She is one stroke at ahead of four-way tie for 10^th at 77 that includes her teammate Lauren Tibbets, Creighton’s Sarah Eversman and Xavier’s Mikayla Smith.
The second day of the 54-hole tournament will begin at 8 a.m. ET on Saturday.

 
Team Standings – Day One
Georgetown           296
St. John’s               303
Butler                     309
Seton Hall              315
Xavier                    316
Creighton               318
 
 
Individual Leaders – Day One
1. Cassie Pantelas, Seton Hall             71
2. Alexa Popowitz, Georgetown           72
3. Kaitleen Shee, St. John’s                 73
4. Lauren Gros, Georgetown                74
T5.  Betsy Werner, Butler                     75
T5.  Ashley Fitzgibbons, Georgetown  75
T5.  Jacquelyn Eleey, Georgetown      75
T5.  Saskia Sterud, St. John’s              75
9. Abigail Gleixner, Butler                     76
T10. Lauren Tibbets, Butler                  76
T10. Sarah Eversman, Creighton         76
T10. Linda Wang, St. John’s                76
T10. Mikayla Smith, Xavier                   76
  
Saturday Tee Times – Second Round
8:00 – Kelsey Johnson, Creighton; Rachel Johnson, Xavier; Macky Fouse, Seton Hall
8:10 – Kelsey Peterson, Creighton; Mikayla Fitzpatrick, Xavier; Madeline Sager, Seton Hall
8:20 – Sydney Gillespie, Creighton; Lindsey Murray, Xavier; Samantha Staudt, Seton Hall
8:30 – Caroline Lake, Creighton; Grace Howie, Xavier; Elizabeth Win, Seton Hall
8:40 – Sarah Eversman, Creighton; Mikayla Smith, Xavier; Cassie Pantelas, Seton Hall
8:50 – Rachel Gathof, Butler; Lydia Kim, St. John’s; Christina Parsells, Georgetown
9:00 – Kelsey McDougall, Butler; Kirsty Beckwith, St. John’s; Ashley Fitzgibbons, Georgetown
9:10 – Lauren Tibbets, Butler; Linda Wang, St. John’s; Jacquelyn Eleery, Georgetown
9:20 – Abigail Gleixner, Butler; Saskia Sterud, St. John’s; Lauren Gros, Georgetown
9:30 – Betsy Werner, Butler; Kaitleen Shee, St. John’s; Alexa Popowitz, Georgetown