GREENVILLE, N.C. – Stetson women's golf put together a strong opening round Monday at the Pirate Collegiate Classic before slipping back during the afternoon session, finishing the first 36 holes in sixth place at Greenville Country Club.
The Hatters came out firing with an even-par 288 in the opening round, placing themselves among the leaders early in the two-day tournament. Stetson followed with a 297 (+9) in round two to close Monday at 585 (+9), seven strokes out of third place heading into Tuesday's final round.
Isaki Sakashita led the way for Stetson with a 1-under 143 through two rounds and sits tied for 13th individually. The junior produced the Hatters' low round of the day with a 2-under 70 to begin the tournament.
Sakashita's opening round featured plenty of scoring. She recorded five birdies and an eagle, including an eagle at the par-5 ninth, as she made the turn in 33. She finished with a 37 on the back nine to post the 70 and put herself in contention near the top of the individual leaderboard. Sakashita followed with a 73 in the afternoon to finish the day at 1-under.
Bridget Butler provided Stetson with its most consistent performance Monday, posting back-to-back rounds of 72. Butler recorded four birdies during her opening round and finished the day at even-par 144, tied for 17th.
Anna Huettl and Maggie Potash helped round out an impressive opening 18 for the Hatters, each carding a 73 (+1). Huettl's first round included three birdies, while Potash recorded four birdies, including one on the par-3 15th. Their scores, along with Sakashita's 70 and Butler's 72, combined for Stetson's even-par 288.
The Hatters weren't able to maintain quite the same pace during the second round. Butler again led the counting scores with an even-par 72, while Sakashita added a 73 and Huettl a 75. Potash posted a 78 and Clara Willem improved by four strokes from her opening-round 81 with a 77.
Huettl heads into the final round tied for 28th at 148 (+4), while Potash is tied for 42nd at 151 (+7). Willem sits at 158 (+14) through 36 holes.
Stetson remains within striking distance of several teams immediately ahead of it. NC State leads the tournament at 8-under 568 after firing an 8-under 280 in the second round. Host East Carolina is second at 1-under 575, followed by UNCG at 2-over 578, App State at 579 and Longwood at 582. The Hatters are sixth at 585, just three strokes behind Longwood and seven behind third-place UNCG.
The final 18 holes are scheduled for Tuesday morning. Stetson will tee off from the first hole beginning with Willem at 8:30 a.m., followed by Potash at 8:39, Huettl at 8:48, Butler at 8:57 and Sakashita at 9:06.
Fans can follow the final round with live scoring on Clippd.
About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.
