Michigan State leads after Athens Regional First Round

ATHENS, GA (May 8, 2017) - With day one of the Athens Regional in the books there is a bit of surprise at the top. Currently, leading the way as the only team under-par is 14-seed Michigan State following a first day 4-under showing at the University of Georgia Golf Course. Led by three players in the top-10, the 2017 Big 10 Champions are five-shots clear of the top-seed in the region, Alabama. On a cloudless day with temperature hovering around 70 degrees it was Sarah Burnham who led the Spartan charge. Beginning on the second nine, Burnham bogeyed the 11th before finding her grove and rolling in birdies on five of the next seven holes. During the run she did drop a shot and as a result she turned in 3-under 33. The strong play for Burnham continued on the second nine as she birdied twice and bogeyed twice to sign for a 3-under 69 that presently leaves her tied for second in the individual standings. Her final birdie of the round came on her last hole, the 9th. Also in the top-10 for Michigan State are Katie Sharp (T5; -2) and Paz Marfa (T7; -1). Out in front in the medalist chase is Wake Forest's Jennifer Kupcho following her 4-under 68. Kupcho started strongly with a birdie on No. 1 and it set the stage for her seven birdie, three bogey round. Six of her seven birdies came during a three hole stretch from Nos. 6-13. Joining Burnham in second place at 3-under are Alice Hewson (Clemson) and Lauren Stephenson (Alabama). Sharing fifth place at 2-under are Sharp and Jillian Hollis (Georgia). From each regional six teams will advance to the NCAA Championships. Outside of Michigan State currently the teams in position to advance are Alabama (+1) in second place, regional host Georgia (+5) and Northwestern (+5) are tied for third, Baylor (+8) is in fifth while Tennessee (+9) sits in sixth. Arizona (+10) is one shot back of that in seventh.