Mississippi State
SEC Championship
Thornton Posts Career-Best SEC Tournament Round
April 15, 2011 | Women's Golf
AUBURN, Ala. – Erika Thornton turned in a 1-under-par 71 in the first round of the SEC Tournament at the University Club in Auburn on Friday. The 71 clip is lowest SEC Tournament score of the senior's career and the lowest first-round score for a Lady Bulldogs in the championship event since Christina Clausen's 71 in the 2000. Thornton currently sits in a tie for ninth.
“The SEC is very strong,” she said. “We haven't shown our full potential yet. My play was very consistent today. Hopefully tomorrow I can keep my momentum going and get a few more putts to fall.”
Mississippi State's 315 card earned the team a share of 10th place and is the team's second-lowest opening round score in the SEC Tournament since 2007.
"We did not fare too well today - but two teams ranked 41st and 52nd didn't either," MSU coach Ginger Brown-Lemm said. "Erika played very well with her 1-under-par in windy conditions. I think our youth showed today and nerves were a factor when we started. We dug ourselves a hole we couldn't get out of very easily. We are going to get ourselves together and focus on starting well in round two."
Freshman Mary Langdon Gallagher stepped up to help pace the lady linksters with a 7-over-par 79. She was followed by fellow freshman Esther Huffman and sophomore Maria Roos who notched an 82 and 83, respectively. Senior Mallory Batson trailed Roos by only two strokes with an 85.
Auburn currently leads the field with a 5-under-par 283, while Erika Popson of Tennessee is tops individually with a 6-under-par 66.
Second-round action begins at 8:00 a.m. CT Saturday. Live stats will be available through www.mstateathletics.com
SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
First Round – April 15, 2011
TEAM RESULTS
1. Auburn (283=283, -5); 2. Tennessee (285=285, -3); 3. LSU (287=287, -1); 4. Arkansas (289=289, +1); 5. Alabama (291=291, +3); 6. Georgia (292=292, +4); 7. Vanderbilt (295=295, +7); 8. Florida (301=301, +13); 9. South Carolina (302=302, +14); T10. Kentucky (315=315, +27); T10. Mississippi State (315=315, +27); 12. Mississippi (316=316, +28).
MSU INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
T9. Erika Thornton 71=71, -1
T44. Mary Langdon Gallagher 79=79, +7
T54. Esther Huffman 82=82, +10
T57. Maria Roos 83=83, +11
59. Mallory Batson 85=85, +12
Players Mentioned
