Lady Hawks lead Chick-fil-A Invite by 16 strokes

By Matt Green

ROME -- Shorter's Lisa Persson fired a 2-over 74 and the Lady Hawks placed three players in the top seven en route to a 16 stroke lead after day one of the Chick-fil-A Collegiate Invitational hosted by Berry College at Stonebridge Golf Club in Rome, Ga.

Maria Bengtson and Gabriela Murcia shot identical rounds of 79 to sit in a tie for seventh overall, Petra Muller currently stands in 16th after shooting an opening round 83 and Caitlyn Cook rounded out Shorter's participants with an 85 as the Lady Hawks turned in a team total of 315.

Coastal Georgia is in second place after shooting a 331. Piedmont College (334), Southwestern College (337) and Young Harris College (339) round out the top five entering Tuesday's final round.

Persson, the Southern States Athletic Conference's 2011 Freshman of the Year, has opened up a two stroke lead over Piedmont's Katarina Hodge (76).

Host Berry is in eighth place out of 13 teams.

Shorter has two players entered as individuals. Freshman Isabella Baldacci is in 11th overall after shooting 82 and Fiona Cooper is knotted up with Muller in 16th after her 83.

The Lady Hawks tee off at 9:24 am on Tuesday to begin final round play.