Hildreth Fires Opening 65 to Lead Tar Heel Women's Invitational After Round 1

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Ellie Hildreth wasted no time making her mark at the Tar Heel Invitational, posting a 5-under 65 Friday to take the opening-round lead on her home course at Finley Golf Course. The NC State junior finished her round early and watched the rest of the field try to chase her down all afternoon — nobody quite could.

A trio of players sit one shot back at 4-under through 18: Wake Forest's Benedicte Brent-Petersen, Boston College's Frances Kim and Virginia Tech's Valentine Delon, who finished T4 at this event a year ago. Delon's teammate Emily Mathews, runner-up at the 2025 Tar Heel, is right behind at 3-under and squarely in the mix again.