AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Georgia State booked a first round of 15-over 303 Monday at Forest Hills Golf Club to take a five-shot lead over host Augusta State in the America’s Choice Mortgage Lady Jaguar Invitational presented by Georgia Pain Specialists, LLC.

Sparked by Joanna Klatten’s low round of the day, the Lady Panthers own an eight-shot advantage over East Carolina and are 14 strokes clear of fourth-place Memphis. Klatten carded a one-over 73 to take a one-shot lead over Augusta State senior Amanda Smith and Memphis’ Dawn-Marie Conaty.

ASU freshman Sarah Mooney, making her first collegiate start and playing as an individual, turned in a three-over 75 and is tied for fourth with East Carolina’s Ana Maria Puche.

“We’re in a good position, but we certainly could have played a lot better,” said ASU head coach Laura Coble. “Amanda played really solid today and her eagle at the 15th gave all of us a big lift. We know we need to play better on the back nine tomorrow, but we’re in contention again and that’s all you can ask for as a coach. If we keep giving ourselves chances, we’re going to bust through. We wanted to play well in front of our home crowd and for the most part, we did. I’m really proud of Sarah for playing so well in her collegiate debut. To play like she did in her first college round, with it being on our home course, is pretty neat.”

Paced by Smith’s two-over effort, five Lady Jaguars are in the top 15 and three are in the top 10. Junior Kristen Bragg is part of a three-way tie for eighth after opening with a five-over 77 and senior Patti Hogeboom is tied for 11th after a six-over 78. Sophomore Emilie Guery managed a seven-over 79 and is tied for 15th while fellow sophomore Anna Lindeborg signed for an 83 and is tied for 30th.

Four Georgia State players, led by Klatten, are in the top 10. Karin Dedering (76) is tied for sixth while Pamela Torres and Claire Starkie are tied for eighth with ASU’s Bragg.

“We’re thrilled to be here and proud of our team for posting a darn good score,” said GSU head coach Cathy Mant. “The volunteers have done a great job here and everyone here is more hospitable than anywhere else we’ve been. The greens were difficult, but this is a great golf course.”

Klatten battled back from a sluggish start that included a bogey on the par-four second hole and a double bogey on the par-three fourth. She took advantage of the par fives with birdies on the ninth and 11th holes before a birdie at the 16th pulled her back to even-par. A bogey on the par-four 18th kept her from the only round of par or better in the 40-player field.

“I’m happy about my round considering how I started,” Klatten said. “It was pretty bad out there early on, but I hit every fairway and I was able to hole a few putts to keep my round together.”

The second and final round of the America’s Choice Mortgage Lady Jaguar Invitational presented by Georgia Pain Specialists, LLC, is scheduled for a 9:00 a.m. shotgun start Tuesday morning.

ASU will be paired with Georgia State and East Carolina. The Lady Jags will tee off the first, second, third and fifth holes.

Live scoring is available at www.golfstat.com. 

America’s Choice Mortgage
Lady Jaguar Invitational
Presented by Georgia Pain Specialists, LLC
Augusta, Ga.
Forest Hills Golf Club
Par 72 – 6,094 yards
Nov. 6-7, 2006 

Team Results

1. Georgia State 		303 (+15)
2. AUGUSTA STATE 		308 (+20)
3. East Carolina 		311 (+23)
4. Memphis 			317 (+29)
5. Jacksonville State 		321 (+33)
6. Florida International 	325 (+37)
7. Arkansas State 		331 (+43)  

Augusta State Individual Results

T2  Amanda Smith 		+2 F 74
T8  Kristen Bragg 		+5 77
T11 Patti Hogeboom 		+6 78
T15 Emilie Geury 		+7 79
T30 Anna Lindeborg 		+11 83
T4  Sarah Mooney ( I ) 		+3 75 

Team with Player Results

1   Georgia State 		303 (+15)
1   Joanna Klatten 		+1 73
T6  Karin Dedering 		+4 76
T8  Pamela Torres 		+5 77 
T8  Claire Starkie 		+5 77
T30 Cathrine Madsen 		+11 83 

2   	Augusta State 		308 (+20)
T2  Amanda Smith 		+2 F 74
T8  Kristen Bragg 		+5 77
T11 Patti Hogeboom 		+6 78
T15 Emilie Geury 		+7 79
T30 Anna Lindeborg 		+11 83
T4  Sarah Mooney ( I ) 		+3 75 

3   East Carolina 		311 (+23)
T4  Ana Maria Puche 		+3 75
T11 Abby Bools 			+6 78
T11 Lene Krog 			+6 78
T17 Michelle Williams 		+8 80
T27 Jessica Hauser 		+10 82
40  Melanie Granville ( I ) 	+31 103 

4   Memphis 			317 (+29)
T2  Dawn-Marie Conaty 		+2 74
T17 Rachel Larson 		+8 80
T20 Cameron Barber 		+9 81
T27 Kathryn O'Rourke 		+10 82
T32 Stacey Tate 		+12 84 

5   Jacksonville State 		321 (+33)
T15 Mercedes Huarte 		+7 79
T17 Michele Thomson 		+8 80
T20 Ashley Cox 			+9 F 81
T20 Alexandra Espinosa 		+9 81
T20 Manuela Tarazona 		+9 81
T6  Portia Abbott ( I ) 	+4 76

6   Florida International 	325 (+37)
T11 Rebecca Samuelsson 		+6 78
T20 Maria Hernandez 		+9 81
T27 Therese Wackenstedt 	+10 82
T32 Roberta Neves 		+12 84
T35 Susan Nam 			+13 85
39  Mylene Forget ( I ) 	+15 87 

7   Arkansas State 		331 (+43)
T20 Adrian Sportsman 		+9 81
T20 Bekah Gregory 		+9 81
T32 Cassie Huffer 		+12 84
T35 Courtney Blevins 		+13 85
T35 Christine Ryckman 		+13 85
T35 Ciara Cunningham ( I ) 	+13 85