Mississippi State women’s golf opens Mason Rudolph Championship in fifth

Mississippi State women’s golf opened the Mason Rudolph Championship with an even-par round Friday in Franklin, Tennessee, placing the Bulldogs fifth in the team standings. Mississippi State was one of five teams to shoot par or better in the first round and is six strokes behind leader Florida, which shot 6 under over the opening 18 holes.

Samantha Whateley and Alicia Bellendir each shot 1-under 70 and are tied for 12th. The round was Whateley’s second par-or-better performance of the season. Bellendir has opened each of her events with an under-par round after shooting 3 under in her collegiate debut.

Alona Avery made her Mississippi State debut with an even-par 71, the 19th even-par round of her career. Avery, a junior from Riverside, California, is tied for 20th entering the second round.

Avery Weed and Moa Stridh each shot 2-over 73 and are tied for 39th. In the team standings, Purdue is third at 3 under, Vanderbilt is fourth at 2 under, and Arizona State is sixth at 1 under, tied with Louisville and Northwestern.

Mississippi State will play the second round with Arizona State and Louisville, beginning at 9:20 a.m.

Source: Mississippi State Athletics.