GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG women's golf team took part in the first round of the Kiawah Island Intercollegiate hosted by the College of Charleston. The 41-team event is the largest field in the country and is played on two courses - the Osprey Point Golf Club and the Oak Point Golf Club.

The Spartans played round one on the Osprey Point course and will play round two on the Oak Point Golf Course with tee times from 10:31-11:04 from hole No. 1. Live scoring off the week is available at www.golfstatresults.com. Round three will have teams ranked 1-20 on Osprey Point and teams 21-41 on the Oak Point course.

The Spartans are tied for 28^th place overall in the 41-team field after posting a 317 score in round one. Chattanooga leads the field with a 283, leading by seven strokes over tournament host College of Charleston.

Freshman Natalia Asensio (Madrid, Spain/Cardenal Spinola) led the Spartans in the first round as she tied her career-low with a 2-over par 74 to sit in a tie for 24^th overall.

“I committed to every shot today,” Asensio said. “I took it hole-by-hole and did some good things out there. I hope to build on my round tomorrow.”

Sophomore Lexi Kershaw (Winston-Salem, N.C./Catawba) is tied for 95^th overall after posting a 6-over par 78. Emily McLennan of Chattanooga and Malene Krollboll Hansen of Coastal Carolina are tied at 4-under par 68.

“Today was a slow start, but there were a lot of positives that came from today's round,” Kershaw said. “I hit some great shots coming in to make some birdies and I will take that momentum into tomorrow.”

Junior Kristin Powers (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Mendon) posted a 9-over par 81 to sit in a tie for 140^th place. Redshirt freshman Savanna Mackie (Greensboro, N.C./Appalachian State) made her first appearance in the UNCG lineup and posted a 84 while junior Emily Kurey (Alpharetta, Ga./University of Louisville) carded an 85.

Joining the Spartans in the field include Bethune-Cookman, Boston College, Boston University, Charleston Southern, Chattanooga, The Citadel, Cleveland State, Coastal Carolina, College of Charleston, Delaware, East Tennessee State, Elon, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Iowa, Jacksonville, Jacksonville State, Lipscomb, Longwood, Loyola, Marshall, Mercer, Morehead State, North Florida, Old Dominion, Oral Roberts, Presbyterian, Radford, Richmond, Samford, SCAD, Southern Mississippi, St. John's, Stetson, Tennessee Tech, Towson, Troy, USC Upstate, Western Kentucky and William & Mary

-UNCG-