HILTON HEAD, S.C. (April 16, 2023) – Sophomore Sophie Bert (Deurle, Belgium) led the ETSU women’s golf team on the opening day of the Southern Conference Championship on Sunday from Moss Creek South Golf Club in Hilton Head, S.C.

Bert, one of three golfers tied for third, posted a 1-over-par 73 in the opener. Bert totaled four birdies, nine pars and five bogeys over the first 18 holes in Hilton Head, S.C. The Buccaneer sophomore played the final five holes at one-under. Bert led the field with her four birdies and also paced the group on the par-4s as she registered an average of 2.50.

With only two golfers in the 45-player field carding a score below par, Furman’s Anna Morgan holds the first-round lead at 2-under-par 70. Western Carolina’s Madison Isaacson is one shot back at 1-under 71, while Bert, Wofford’s Nicole Amos and Chloe Johnson of Furman are three strokes off the lead.

Furman also holds the top spot among the team leaders as the Paladins recorded a 9-over-par 297 en route to leading by four shots over Western Carolina and by 10 strokes over the Buccaneers and Mercer. The Catamounts totaled a 13-over-par 301, while ETSU and Mercer both finished at 19-over-par 307.

Hollie Muse (Liverpool, England) sits inside the top 10 as she registered a 3-over-par 75 and is in solo ninth. Muse was even-par with three holes remaining but went bogey-par-double to finish the round. Muse posted three birdies on the day – tying for the second-most in the field.

ETSU’s other two countable scores on Sunday came from Amber Thornton (Canberra, Australia) and Alex Crafton (Lake Mary, Fla.). Thornton is tied for 22nd at 7-over 79 and Crafton is tied for 28th at 8-over 80.

ETSU will be in the final group to tee off in Monday’s second round, starting at 10:10 a.m. from the first tee box.

Fans can follow live scoring via Golfstat.com, while recaps will be posted on ETSUBucs.com following each round

For more information on Buccaneer women’s golf, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the women’s golf page.