COLUMBIA, SC -- The Phoenix women opened the 2001 Palmetto Utility Protection Service Big South Conference Women's Golf Championship with a strong first round of 324. The round puts them four strokes off the leaders.

Charleston Southern sits atop the leaderboard after shooting a 320 on the first day of competition, while Elon follows closely. Radford currently sits in the third spot after a round of 328. Coastal Carolina's 329 places them fourth, Winthrop shot a 331 to end the day in fifth and UNC Wilmington rounds out the field after posting a 332.

Charleston Southern's Kari Hilton was the top performer in round one, posting a two-over 74 to take a two stroke lead over Radford's Stephanie George. Courtney Pomerantz of UNC Wilmington shot 77 and Radford's Laura Terebey shot 78. Seven players are currently tied for the fifth spot, including Elon's Laura Orlen and Beth Frace as well as two-time defending Big South Conference champion Patricia Martinson of CSU. Elon's Katie Knoepffler is tied for 13th after shooting a first round 82, while teammate Amy Johnson is tied for 15th after her round of 84.

The tournament will continue tomorrow at the Windermere Club in Blythewood, SC.

--ELON