Athena Golf in Second After First Day of Jekyll Island, Cheng Has One-Shot Lead

GolfStat Scoring

JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga. - The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's golf team is in second place out of 24 teams after the first day of the Jekyll Island Invitational on Friday, with Stella Cheng holding the individual lead at -3 after an opening-round 69.

The Athenas shot a 298 to stand at +10, just two shots off the lead, which is held by Pomona-Pitzer, while Redlands is in fourth (+12), as the SCIAC flexed its muscles on the first day of the three-day tournament. Carnegie Mellon was third at +11, and Sewanee is at +13, as the top of the team leaderboard is bunched together. 

Cheng hit the turn at +1, and had a torrid back nine, carding four birdies and five pars to vault up to -3 and into the lead. She had back-to-back birdies on the 15th and 16th to move from -1 to -3 and one shot ahead of Sydney Kuo of WashU, who finished at -2 after a birdie on 17. 

Esther Lee is also on the top 10 for CMS, shooting a 73 (+1) to stand in a three-way tie for fifth. Lee had a strong back nine as well, picking up eight pars and a birdie on No. 11. Jeissy Lee and Ella Chio also scored for CMS with a 78 apiece, as Lee finished with two straight birdies to take some momentum into tomorrow's second round. 

CMS will have an early tee time tomorrow, beginning at 9:30 a.m. (EDT).