Picking up where she left off after a fantastic debut season, Erin Donovan led the Piedmont University women’s golf team as it opened the 2023 fall season at the Transylvania Invitational in Lexington, Kentucky, on Saturday.
Playing the first 36 holes of the 54-hole event, Piedmont delivered as a team as well, firing team scores of 320 and 314 to sit in solo second, just 10 strokes behind Rhodes, which leads at 306.
Donovan opened strong in her first round, with a 35 on the front nine before coming home in 37 for her round of 72. The Southaven, Mississippi native announced her presence at this event a year ago, opening with 74 on her way to the solo lead after the first round. Donovan then held on to her solo lead, hanging in with a 3-over 75 in the second round to lead by one with 18 holes remaining.
She backed that performance up with another solid showing in the second round, carding a 3-over 75.
Newcomer Keegan Goins backed up Donovan, giving the Lions a pair of rounds in the 70’s, with Goins firing a first round 77 in her Piedmont debut. Goins started out on fire, going out in 36 before coming in with a 41. Goins backed up slightly but still fired a solid 83 in the second round.
Veterans Sarah Fox (85) and Savannah Barefoot (86) delivered the final two counting scores for Piedmont in the first round.
The second round saw Fox make a big bounce back, as the junior improved by eight to fire a 77.
The final round will conclude on Sunday afternoon.
