WALLACE, N.C. –Heavy frost and cold weather conditions delayed the start of the River Landing Classic for over an hour which caused a suspension of play due to darkness before all the teams could finish the second of two rounds. Coastal Carolina played 32 holes of action and finished the day tied for fifth at four-over before darkness forced the suspension.
 
The Chants finished the first 18 holes with an even-par 288 and in third place. However when play was stopped the Chants had dropped to fifth and were four-over.
 
The excitement of the day, however, belonged to freshman Nicole Abelar and her exhibition of golf in the first round that saw her shoot a seven-under 65 to both break and tie a team-record with the lowest round in program history. The score of 65 ties a record set by former CCU standout Malene Kroboll Hansen who shot a 65 in the second round of the 3M Lady Jaguar Intercollegiate back in 2015. That 65 resulted in a six-under round as the par for that tournament was 71. So Abelar's seven-under set a new scoring record for the Chanticleers program.
 
Abelar started the day with a startling five-under 31 on holes 10-18 which included consecutive birdies on holes 14, 15, 16, and 17. She finished the round with eight birdies and only one bogey on the way to her record performance.
 
"Being a freshman she did a great job of holding it together out there today," head coach Katie Quinney said. "She made some quality shots, stayed patient and hit a lot of putts. What helped her the most was playing well early when it was so cold and she just built off of that start."
 
She is presently tied for fourth entering tomorrow's action which will start with the conclusion of the second round before the third and final round begins.
 
Sophomore Sophia Carlsen continues her run of strong performances this spring, shooting a first-round one-under 71. She had three birdies and two bogeys in the opening 18 holes and will step onto the tee box to start tomorrow's action tied for 16th at one-over.
 
Caitlin Evans-Brand carded a three-over 75 in the first round and presently stands in a tie for 31st at four-over after 32 holes.
 
Junior Tiffany Arafi had her struggles in the first round shooting a five-over 77 but may have figured things out in the second round. At the time of the suspension of play, Arafi's last nine holes saw her shoot a three-under. Among those holes was an eagle-three on the par-five 17. She enters tomorrow tied for 36th.
 
Frantiska Lunackova also had an up-and-down front nine finishing with a five-over 77. Like Arafi, she too was playing a better second round and was only one-over on her second round of play. She enters tomorrow tied for 38th.
 
The teams will be on the course early Tuesday morning to complete the second round before starting the third and final round. Live stats can be followed at www.GoCCUsports.com.
 
For complete coverage of CCU women's golf, follow the Chants on social media @CoastalWGolf (Twitter), facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook), @GoCCUSports (Instagram) or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at www.GoCCUsports.com.