The University of Kentucky women’s golf team began play at the Southeastern Conference Women’s Golf Championship at The Pelican Golf Club in Tampa, Florida, on April 17. The Wildcats finished the first round with a score of 9-over-par 289, placing them in 13th position. They are nine shots behind the top eight teams, which will advance to match-play quarterfinals after three rounds.
Cathryn Brown, the team’s only upperclassman and an Eddyville native, led Kentucky with a score of 1-under-par. This performance put her tied for 16th place individually after one round. Brown recorded three birdies across different types of holes and maintained a consistent streak by contributing to the team total for her 33rd consecutive round.
Brown’s best previous finish at this event was tied for 25th as a freshman during the 2023-24 season. Sophomore C.A. Carter from Lexington shot a two-over-par round to tie for 38th place, while fellow sophomore Raleygh Simpson posted a three-over-par effort and is tied for 46th place. Simpson made five birdies but also had several bogeys throughout her round.
Anastasia Hekkonen finished five over par and is currently tied for 66th place after recovering on the back nine with two early birdies. Karlie Campbell’s six-over-par was not included in the team total but she has previously performed well on this course.
Kentucky will seek to improve its standing in Saturday’s second round, starting at 9:10 a.m., paired with Georgia and Alabama.
