Rhodes Leads Women’s Golf on Day One of Mason Rudolph

FRANKLIN, Tenn. – Sun Devil Women’s Golf opened the Mason Rudolph Championship with a solid effort on Friday.

Hosted at Vanderbilt Legends Club, the 23rd edition of the Mason Rudolph Championship features four teams from GOLF Channel’s preseason Top-10. Arizona State fired a 281 (-7) in the first round, which has them in eighth place in the 16-team field. Mississippi State and South Carolina share the lead at -12, with a crowded leaderboard currently boasting nine teams within six shots of the lead.

The Sun Devils were led by redshirt sophomore Patience Rhodes, who delivered an excellent first round for the second straight tournament. She once again recorded a 68 (-4) to open an event, finding herself in a tie for fifth after day one. Not far behind are juniors Beth Coulter and Paula Schulz-Hanssen, who are tied for 22nd after carding 70s (-2). Senior Grace Summerhays had bright spots throughout the initial 18, as she finished with a team-high six birdies. Freshman Isla McDonald-O’Brien looks to build off of the two birdies she registered at the end of her round, including one on 18. 

Head Coach Missy Farr-Kaye‘s team is still in contention for the team lead, with Patience Rhodes sitting only three strokes back in the individual race. The Sun Devils combined for 20 birdies as a team, tied for the third-most in the field. A big reason for their success was the play on par five opportunities, with the team finishing seven-under on those holes. Arizona State will attempt to make up ground in the second of three rounds starting tomorrow at 6:30 AM MST.

LIVE SCORING

ROUND BREAKDOWN
Patience Rhodes (68/-4/T5)
BIRDIES (X): Hole 3 (Par 3; 166 yards), Hole 4 (Par 5; 477 yards), Hole 6 (Par 4; 389 yards), Hole 9 (Par 4; 409 yards), Hole 13 (Par 4; 420 yards),

Beth Coulter (70/-2/T22)
BIRDIES (3): Hole 7 (Par 5; 508 yards), Hole 13 (Par 4; 420 yards), Hole 14 (Par 5; 547 yards)

Paula Schulz-Hanssen (70/-2/T22)
BIRDIES (3): Hole 4 (Par 5; 477 yards), Hole 9 (Par 4; 409 yards), Hole 15 (Par 4; 403 yards)

Grace Summerhays (73/+1/T58)
BIRDIES (6): Hole 2 (Par 4; 357 yards), Hole 4 (Par 5; 477 yards), Hole 7 (Par 5; 508 yards), Hole 11 (Par 4; 387 yards), Hole 12 (Par 3; 155 yards), Hole 18 (Par 5; 504 yards)

Isla McDonald-O’Brien (76/+4/T74)
BIRDIES (3): Hole 4 (Par 5; 477 yards), Hole 14 (Par 5; 547 yards), Hole 18 (Par 5; 504 yards)

QUOTABLES
“Another great start for Patience,” Coach Farr-Kaye stated following the round. “Well done today with four-under. Beth and Paula had a lot of…