CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The University of Kentucky women’s golf team is leading the 17-team field at the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational at Finley Golf Club (par 70, 6,081 yards) in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Wildcats recorded a 4-over-par 284 in the first round Friday, sitting two strokes ahead of the two teams tied for second place.

Kentucky flirted with the top of the leaderboard all day but five birdies and 11 pars in the final four holes pushed the team to solo first place down the stretch. Three of those birdies came on back-to-back-to-back looks from Karlie Campbell, a freshman competing in her first college lineup, on hole Nos. 15-17.

Two freshmen are actually pacing the Wildcats.

Campbell and fellow freshman Elin Pudas Remler both assembled even-par 72s for a share of sixth place among the 90-person field. Campbell paired five bogeys with five birdies, while Pudas Remler put together a trio of bogeys and a trio of birdies. The rookies are just three shots back of the leader, Carolina Lopez-Chacarra of Wake Forest.

UK’s young team is playing like a veteran, with freshman C.A. Carter and sophomore Cathryn Brown sitting next in the lineup at T19. The underclassmen both went 2-over on Friday, with Carter earning a pair of birdies, a pair of bogeys and a double, while Brown turned in five bogeys and a trio of birdies.

Marta López Echevarría, who didn’t compete in the last tournament because of an injury, returned this week to post a 7-over-par 77.

Kentucky, who won the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational just two seasons ago, are two strokes in front of Michigan State (+6) and No. 7 Wake Forest (+6) and three strokes in front of Louisville (+7). The team will compete in the second round Saturday beginning at 10:10 a.m. ET off hole No. 1, paired with Michigan State and Wake Forest.

The Wildcats can expect sunny skies and a high of 76 degrees for the second round Saturday.

Scorecard
T6 Karlie Campbell 70 (E)
T6 Elin Pudas Remler 70 (E)
T19 Cathryn Brown 72 (+2)
T19 C.A. Carter 72 (+2)
T60 Marta López Echevarría 77 (+7)

For the latest on the Kentucky women’s golf team, follow the team on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, as well as on the web at UKathletics.com.