Macarena Silva has led the Seminoles into first place at the University of Kentucky Invitational.

Silva in first place in individual standings at Kentucky Tournament.

Sept. 25, 2009

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Florida State University junior Macarena Silva is in first place in the individual standings and the No. 8 ranked Seminole women's golf team is in first place in the team standings after the first round of the University of Kentucky / Bettie Lou Evans Fall Invitational at the Big Blue Course at the University Club of Kentucky. Silva holds the individual lead by two strokes over a trio of players while the Seminoles are three strokes ahead of UCF and Coastal Carolina in the team standings.

The Seminoles, who finished second in the fall season opening Cougar Classic, are looking for their first tournament victory since winning the spring 2008 LSU Invitational. Silva, the only player in the 82-player field who finished under par in the first round, is looking for the first individual victory of her collegiate career.

The first round was played in a constant drizzle with pockets of driving rain during the day.

"The round played just like we thought it would," said head coach Debbie Dillman. "It was the long and the short of things. We are a team that can hit it long and putt well - so today was a good round for us. We left some putts out there - putts that we know we can make tomorrow if the rain holds off. This team is very excited to be on the course so we hope we can get the round in on Saturday."

Silva (Santiago, Chile) played a consistently solid round with only one hole over par. She began the round with a par and a bogey on her second hole and was seemingly flawless after that. Silva was three-under par over her final 16 holes to finish with a two-under par score of 70. The score of 70 tied her collegiate best which she also shot during the second round of the spring 2009 UCF Invitational.

"I thought we did a good job as a team today even though we left a few putts out there," said Silva. "I feel like I played well. I made some putts and some good decisions. I am hoping to play even better in the second round."

Silva's best career finish - tied for fifth - came at the rain shortened Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic at the University of Georgia during the spring of 2009.

Freshman Jessica Negron (Ocala, Fla.) is in a tie for 13th place after carding a three-over par 75. She carded three birdies and nine holes of par in only the fourth round of her collegiate career. Negron is looking to earn the second top-20 finish of her two tournament career after finishing in a tie for 16th place at the season opening Cougar Classic. She has now carded four consecutive scores at 75 or better.

Sophomore Hannah Thomson (Perth, Australia) is in a tie for 20th place after carding a four-over par 76 in the first round. She was plus two over par with one birdie on both sides of the course. Thomson was one over par or better for more than half of the first round.

Senior Lacey Agnew (Jonesboro, Ga.) shot a five-over par 77 and is in a tie for 28th place in the individual standings. After finishing in second place in the individual standings at the Cougar Classic, Agnew is the No. 8 ranked individual golfer in the nation according to GolfWeek Magazine.

Freshman Mary Beth Ramsay (Orlando, Fla.) is in a tie for 41st place with a six-over par score of 78. She, too, is playing in her second career tournament and looking for the second top 50 finish of her short career.

University of Kentucky - Bettie Lou Evans Fall Invitational/Sept. 25-27, 2009
University Club of Kentucky/Lexington, Ky./Par 72/First Round FSU Results
1/15.   Florida State       298
1.      Macarena Silva      70
T13.    Jessica Negron      75
T20.    Hannah Thomson      76
T28.    Lacey Agnew         77
T41.    Mary Beth Ramsay    78

University of Kentucky - Bettie Lou Evans Fall Invitational/Sept. 25-27, 2009
University Club of Kentucky/Lexington, Ky./Par 72/First Round FSU Results
1.    Florida State     298   9.     Fla. International     311
T2.   UCF               301   T10.   Middle Tennessee St.   312
T2.   Coastal Carolina  301   T10.   Miami                  312
4.    Texas State       302   12.    Kentucky (B)           313
5.    Chattanooga       303   T13.   Mississippi State      314
6.    Notre Dame        304   T13.   Princeton              314
7.    Kennesaw State    305   15.    Kentucky (A)           318
8.    Augusta State     310