COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Coastal Carolina women's golf team shot a 10-over 298 during Monday's first round of the 2021 Women's Golf Columbus Regional to finish the opening day tied for 11th place at the Ohio State Golf Club Scarlet Course.
 
After a two-hour delay due to heavy rains over the weekend, the Chanticleers were able to steer through a tough, wet course to post five-over scores on both the front and back nine. It was a span of six holes that hurt the Chants in today's opening round. After the first six holes, the Chants were in second place at one-under, but over the next six holes, the Chants dropped 11 strokes, before righting the ship over the final few holes.
 
Reigning Sun Belt Conference Tournament Champion Sophia Carlsen led the Chants shooting a one-under 71 in the opening round. The sophomore opened play with an even-par 36 through nine holes and finished the back nine with birdies on 16 and 17 to finish her score. She is tied for seventh heading into tomorrow's second round.
 
CCU's lone holdover from the 2018 NCAA Regional, Frantiska Lunackova showed her experience shooting a two-over 74. The senior shot a one-over 37 on both the front and back nine and will enter tomorrow's action tied for 33rd.
 
Freshman Nicole Abelar had an up-and-down round. She started the day with three bogeys and a birdie on the front nine and duplicated that score on the back nine to finish with a four-over 76. She is tied at 53 after today's action.
 
Tiffany Arafi and Caitlin Evans-Brand both shot a five-over 77 in today's action. Arafi struggled with a four-over 40 on the front nine but made a nice recovery on the back nine to shave three strokes off that score to shoot a 37. Evans-Brand was consistent in her play today, shooting a 38 on the front nine and a 39 on the back nine. Both players are tied for 62nd.
 
The course played tough today as only two teams were able to break par. First-round leader Oklahoma shot a two-under 286, followed by Duke with a one-under 287. Finishing third in today's round was Michigan with an even-par 288.
 
The top six teams will advance on to the NCAA Championship and the next three spots are held by Georgia (+1, 289) and both Arizona State and Kent State who are tied for fifth (+3, 291).
 
Washington and Virginia are even at seventh after shooting eight-over 296. Behind them comes Vanderbilt and Illinois tied at ninth with a nine-over 297.
 
CCU is even with Kentucky and Campbell (+10, 298) in 11th, only seven strokes from a top-six position. Rounding out the field are Clemson (+11, 299), Nebraska (+19, 307), New Mexico (+22, 310), Youngstown State (+34, 322), and Evansville (+35, 323).
 
Tomorrow's second-round action is set to tee off at 8 a.m. ET with the Chanticleers scheduled to tee off hole No. 10. Live stats available 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.