April 14, 2006

PINEHURST, N.C. - Katie Trotter of the University of Maryland shot an even-par 72 on Friday and was in a tie for second place individually after the first round of the Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Golf Championship being played at Pinehurst No. 8.

Trotter's strong round pushed the Terrapins into a tie for fourth place in the team standings with a 308 total. Maryland was tied with Virginia for fourth, six shots behind a second-place tie between NC State and Florida State. Duke led the team standings after the first round after a 294 on Friday.

Also for Maryland on Friday, Katie Stepanek had a 75 to tie for seventh, Kelly Calkin was tied for 22nd at 79 and Kelly MacWhinnie shot an 82 and tied for 36th.

Trotter was 2-over-par after the first eight holes on Friday but hit a hot streak in the middle of the round. She birdied the ninth, 11th and 12th holes to go 1-under. She bogeyed the 18th hole to finish at even par and tie Caroline Westrup of Florida State for second place behind Duke's Amanda Blumenherst, who took the individual lead with an opening-round 69.

Stepanek shot a 40 on the front nine, getting a slow start by posting a double-bogey on the first hole. But she matched Trotter's 1-under-par 35 on the back nine to finish off a 75. Calkin went out in 38, but had some difficulties with a tough wind on the back nine to finish at 79.

Three individuals were tied for fourth place after 74s on Friday - Jennie Lee of Duke, Nancy Mountcastle of NC State and Jessica Steward of Miami.

The 54-hole event continues through Sunday and is being played on the par-72, 6,293-yard layout.

TEAM SCORES
1. Duke 294, T2. NC State 302, T2. Florida State 302, T4. MARYLAND 308, T4. Virginia 308, 6. Wake Forest 314, 7. North Carolina 315, 8. Miami 316, 9. Boston College 330.

MARYLAND SCORES
T2. Katie Trotter 37-35--72, T7. Katie Stepanek 40-35--75, T22. Kelly Calkin 38-41--79, T36. Kelly MacWhinnie 42-40--82.