April 23, 2007

Oneonta, Ala. (SMU) - The SMU women's golf team is tied for the lead after round one of the 2007 Conference USA Women's Golf Championship at the par-72, 6,161-yard Limestone Springs Golf Club. SMU and UTEP are both at 308, but only seven shots separate the top six teams.

SMU is tied for first despite playing without two of its stars. Senior All-C-USA golfer Laura Cross remains sidelined for the season, while All-C-USA golfer Lacey Jones is out this week with a foot injury. The Ackerson sisters anchored the SMU squad on Monday, as Kate shot 1-over 73 to tie for second, while Jennifer is tied for seventh at 5-over 77. Tying Jennifer for seventh is teammate Ashley Deatherage, who played one of her best rounds of the season in carding a 77 - almost five shots below her season stroke average. Kristina Rothengatter (81 - T26) and Sarah Dodson (89 - T41) round out the SMU quintet.

SMU is coming off a second-place finish at the 2006 Conference USA Women's Golf Championship, its best conference championship finish since 1992. Individually, SMU's Jennifer Ackerson took runner-up honors, which was SMU's best individual finish in 14 years.

SMU will tee off starting at 9:20 a.m. on Tuesday. Live scoring updates are available here.