GREENVILLE, NC --- The Xavier University women’s golf team is currently ninth out of 16 schools in the Lady Pirate Spring Classic hosted by East Carolina. The squad had a balanced effort as all five golfers were within nine strokes of each other after the first two rounds of play.

Freshman Abby Fowler (Medford, Ore./South Medford) shot an 82-81=163 and is tied for 31st. Fellow freshman Sarah Sparks (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) is close behind with an 84-82=166. Junior Beth Hamilton (Norman, Okla./Lakota East[Ohio]) finished one stroke behind Sparks with an 84-83=167.

Sophomore Jill Stein (Sussex, Wisc./Hartland Arrowhead) and junior Kelly Bego (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral) both started off well, each carding an 81 in the first round before shooting an 88 and 91 to finish with a 169 and 172 respectively.

The team totaled a 328-334=662, just three strokes behind eighth-place Eastern Kentucky. UNC-Wilmington is the current leader with a 312-302=614. The final round of play starts tomorrow at 8 a.m.