CROSSVILLE – There weren’t many red numbers on the leaderboard at the end of day one at the Golf Capital of Tennessee Women’s Open.
By day’s end, it was a simple approach by Melissa Siviter that put her in the lead.
The former Georgia State University golfer fired an opening-round 3-under, 69 to hold a one-stroke lead over Haylee Harford of Leavittsburg, Oh. at Stonehenge Golf Club.
“I just played to the middle of the green most of the day and let the birdies come to me,” said Siviter, a native of England who now resides in Alpharetta, Ga.
“I made some really good putts. I made a putt on number five from about 45 feet and that kind of got my round going and I just played steady from there.”
This is the third time that Siviter has traveled to Crossville to compete in the tournament. After her round, she said the event was one of her favorite state opens to play in.
“I love this tournament,” she added. “The volunteers here are great and the course is always in great shape. I just love coming back.”
Siviter did all of her scoring in the first ten holes of her round, making four birdies (2, 5, 4, 10) and one bogey (6). She ended her round with eight straight pars.
Harford, a recent graduate from Furman University who earned honorable mention All-American accolades during her collegiate career, made two birdies and the rest pars on her way to a 2-under, 70.
Three golfers are currently tied for third place at 71, including University of Tennessee golfer Micheala Williams (Athens, Ala.) and Morristown’s Ashli Bunch, who won the Tennessee Girls’ Junior three times (1991-93) before a standout career at Furman. Josee Doyon (Newton Falls, Ohio), who played at Kent State before turning pro, is also in that group.
Five golfers are tied for sixth at even par, including a current Middle Tennessee State University golfer and a former one – Catherine Caudill of Clarksville and Allie Knight of Knoxville.
Also shooting a 72 in the opening round were Christine Meier of San Antonio, Sandra Angulo of Port Saint Lucie and Elsa Moberly of Richmond.
Williams and Caudill are the only amateurs in the top 10.
21st ANNUAL
GOLF CAPITAL OF TENNESSEE WOMEN’S OPEN
STONEHENGE GOLF CLUB
CROSSVILLE, TENNESSEE
JULY 25, 2019
Melissa Siviter 69
Haylee Harford 70
Micheala Williams (a) 71
Ashli Bunch 71
Josee Doyon 71
Christine Meier 72
Sandra Angulo 72
Elsa Moberly 72
Allie Knight 72
Catherine Caudill (a) 72
Amanda Hollandsworth 73
Kayley Marschke (a) 73
Hanley Long 73
Brooke Baker 74
Lynn Lim (a) 74
Cheryl Fox 74
Kaho Monica Matsubara (a) 74
Bianca Lohbauer (a) 75
Anna Moore (a) 75
Meagan Wallace 75
Sarah Bae 75
Hannah Bratton (a) 75
Blair Stockett (a) 75
Kasey Miller 75
Waverly Whiston (a) 75
Anna Young 75
Kim Williams 75
Carson McKie (a) 75
Victoria Smith 75
Jessica Welch 75
GOLF CAPITAL OF TENNESSEE WOMEN’S OPEN: Leaderboard and second-round tee times https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/1840710
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