Oct. 12, 2007

Knoxville, Tenn. -- Junior Blair Lamb fired a one-over par 72 to pace the Furman Lady Paladins during the opening round of the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship Friday at the Cherokee Country Club in Knoxville, Tenn. Furman opened with a 16-over par 300 to grab 13th place after the opening round of play.

Lamb, a native of Flat Rock, N.C., recovered from a two-over par start through three holes to play the final 15 at one-under par. She sits just four strokes back of the lead entering round two of the 54-hole tournament.

Sophomore Ashley Baker carded Furman's second best score of the day, a three-over par 74, on the strength of three birdies on the front nine. Freshmen Stefanie Kenoyer and Jaclyn Hilea rounded out the Lady Paladins four counting scores with rounds of 75 and 79, respectively.

Arkansas notched a first round 285 to hold a four stroke advantage over Alabama and Tennessee.

Second round action is scheduled to begin Saturday morning on the Par-71 layout.

13 Furman 300

t18 Blair Lamb 72

t33 Ashley Baker 74

t40 Stefanie Kenoyer 75

t76 Jaclyn Hilea 79

t91 Corrine Carr 84