Clarke Leads Lady Tops on First Day at C-USA Championship

Monday, April 15

Fort Myers, Fla.

Western Kentucky University

Hosted by C-USA

4/15/2019 2:55:00 PM | Women's Golf

FORT MYERS, Fla. — WKU's Megan Clarke picked up where she left off last season, finishing the first round of the 2019 Air Force Reserve Conference USA Women's Golf Championship tied for eighth individually.

The sophomore Clarke shot a 1-under 71 on Monday at the par-72, 6,194-yard Verandah Club. Last season, the England native tied for 11th in the conference tournament as a true freshman.

After bogeying her first hole of the day Monday, Clarke put together three birdies and one bogey over the rest of the round. She's part of a logjam at the top of the leaderboard, but only two strokes behind a trio of leaders at 3 under.

Clarke's opening-round 71 is the fourth-lowest round ever by a Lady Topper in conference tournament action.

As a team, WKU is in seventh place after a 7-over-par 295 performance – just two shots out of fifth. Old Dominion and UTSA share the team lead at 6 under.

The Lady Toppers' 295 is tied for the program's second-lowest team round at a conference tournament.

Freshman Lizzie Loy turned in a solid effort in her conference tourney debut with a 1-over 73 that has her tied for 20th. Loy's 73 is also one of the top-10 lowest scores ever by a Lady Topper at a conference tournament.

Junior Mary Joiner is tied for 32nd following a 3-over 75. After starting 4 over through four holes, Joiner settled in with 13 pars and one birdie the rest of the way.

Junior Abigail Smee is tied for 38th with a 76, while fellow junior Bailey Tyree is tied for 47th with a 78.

The Lady Toppers are scheduled to tee off at 7:50 a.m. CT in Tuesday's second round.

2019 Conference USA Championship First Day Results
T8. Megan Clarke (71)
T20. Lizzie Loy (73)
T32. Mary Joiner (75)
T38. Abigail Smee (76)
T47. Bailey Tyree (78)