Shean tied for second

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The No. 35 University of Arkansas women’s golf team started strong and rallied in the final holes grabbing a share of the lead after the first round of the 2010 Southeastern Conference Women’s Golf Tournament at NorthRiver Yacht Club in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Friday.The Razorbacks were among the leaders at the turn and low scores on the second nine helped the Razorbacks into a tie for the lead with No. 15 Georgia with an opening round 280. The four-under score on the par 71, 6,057-yard course is Arkansas’ lowest first-round score of the year and the first sub-par opening score of the year for the Razorbacks."I think the golf course sets up really well for us," head coach Shauna Estes-Taylor said. "We prepare at a hard golf course at home and it’s very demanding off the tees. We just did a great job and I’m really pleased."Junior Kelli Shean paced the Razorbacks with a first-round two-under 69. Shean was plus-one on the front nine and was three-under on the back with birdies on holes 11, 12, 13 and 15.Shean finished the day with five birdies, tying three other players for the most in the round.Senior Alex Schulte made her return to the lineup after a wrist injury sidelined her for much of the spring. Schulte and freshman Victoria Vela were both one-under with 70s and are tied for seventh overall."I think Vicky finished three, three, three and Kelli was under par on this (the second) side," Estes-Taylor said. "Kristin (Ingram) made some really clutch putts coming down the stretch and that was important for us and Tiffany (Phelps) hung in there as well. This group has worked hard. I’ve said it all along. We’ve worked since Aug. 24 to be in this position. We have a little bit of work to do before tomorrow but we’re in a good spot."Ingram, who struggled a bit in the early spring, carded an even-par 71 and is tied for 14th overall. Phelps is tied for 33rd with a 74 in the first round. Ingram had 15 pars in the first round tying for the most on the day.The course is in great condition with wide, tree-lined fairways, ideal for Arkansas who is straight off the tees. The greens were inconsistent, some fast, others slow, but Arkansas seemed to putt well all day.The Razorbacks are scheduled for the second flight of tee times beginning at 9:20 a.m. from the first hole. Arkansas is paired with Georgia and Vanderbilt with Phelps going out first for Arkansas. She is followed by Ingram, Schulte, Vela and Shean at 10 a.m."We have a good game plan in place," Estes-Taylor said of the next round. "There are a couple holes we’ll talk about tonight like hole 10. I think we want to go a bit more to the right off the tee. But we’ve seen this course before and have a good feel about where we want to go off the tee."The rest of the field includes No. 20 Vanderbilt, No. 17 LSU and Ole Miss tied for third with 284, followed by No. 6 Alabama in sixth with 287. South Carolina, ranked No. 30, and No. 4 Auburn are tied for seventh overall with 289 while No. 19 Florida and No. 16 Tennessee are tied for ninth with 298. Kentucky with 302 and Mississippi State with 309 round out the team scores.NOTES-Senior Alex Schulte made the turn at two-under after birdies on holes three and nine. Hole three is a par three and plays 190 while hole nine is a par five and played 505 yards-The NorthRiver Yacht Club is a par 71, 6,067 yard course.-Arkansas tied for first with first round 280-Lowest first round of the year-First first round under par this year-Kelli Shean tied for second with two-under 69-Alex Schulte and Victoria Vela tied for seventh with one-under 70-Kristin Ingram tied for 14th with even par 71-Tiffany Phelps tied for 33rd with three-over 74-Play with Georgia and Vanderbilt Saturday

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