UC's Bires Scores Hole In One At Great Smokies

Sophomore Sarah Bires shot the first hole in one of her career and the 12th in the nation this fall to highlight the University of Cincinnati women’s golf team’s participation in day one of the Wachovia Great Smokies Intercollegiate.

Bires got the hole in one on the par three, 145-yard hole number two on the Blue Ridge course. She joins Western Carolina’s Brandy Anderson as they only players to achieve the feat in the six-year history of the tournament. Bires finished the day tied for 55th with a score of 79.

Leading the way for the Bearcats in the opening round of play was senior Alysa Few (London, Ontario/East Tennessee State) who is tied for 44th with a 78. Allison Couch (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville) matched Bires’ day one total of 79 to share 55th in a season-best round for the senior.

In the team standings, the Bearcats are 13th of 24 teams with a first day score of 316. Western Carolina is leading the team standings with a three-over par 291, six strokes better Murray State.

The race for medalist honors is being dominated at the top by a pair of Western Carolina players as Ashley Hovda, a native of Springfield, Ohio, leads teammate Bianca Melone by five strokes. Hovda posted a round of 67 one shot over the tournament single round record.

The tournament concludes with the final 18 holes, beginning with a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday.