May 9, 2002

EAST LANSING, Mich - Baylor's women's golf team is tied with Purdue for third place with an opening round 309 at the NCAA Central Regional Tournament hosted by Michigan State. The tournament is being held at the Forest Akers Golf Course in East Lansing.

The Bears, ranked 32nd nationally by Golfstat, are led by sophomore Melanie Hagewood who shot an opening round two-under-par 70 to give her the individual lead at the tournament.

Rounding out the individual scoring for the Bears are sophomore Kelli McKandless who opened with a 79 (t29th), senior Tara Bateman is tied for 40th (80), fellow senior Nicole Johnson also shot 80 and is tied for 40th and junior Hanna-Sofia Svenningsson shot 86 to tie her for 90th.

Kent State currently hold the first place spot after an opening round 304, followed by Oklahoma State (306), Baylor (309), Purdue (309), and host Michigan State

The Bears finished in the top five of 11 tournaments this season including a win at the Price's Give 'Em Five in October and the 2001 Islander Fall Classic in November. At last years Central Regional, the Bears also shot an opening round 309.