JACKSONVILLE, N.C. -- The Camp Lejeune Collegiate is celebrating its 50th annual tournament this week, but this week also marks the first time there has been a women's competition in the championship. On Friday, the Bridgewater College women's golf team honored the historic day by opening a nine-stroke lead among six teams that are competing on the Scarlet Course at Paradise Point.
 
"This is an event that the men have been enjoying for the better part of 20 years, and it's such a unique tournament in college golf -- our athletes play with local amateurs (mostly retired Marines), have banquets with officers speaking, this morning there was a color-guard and marine band playing before tee times started, and they have the experience of being on a military base for four days, " said head coach John Rogers. "Now, finally, the women get to have all these great experiences as well!"
 
The Eagles came out with an opening round 320, their best so far for the spring season. Rogers said he thought that the exceptionally quick pace suited his team, as they played in under four hours, something very rare in college golf. The athletes played in twosomes with a ladies group from Camp Lejeune which included military spouses and retirees. 
 
Sophia Martone led the way for Bridgewater on Friday. The sophomore has been managing an injury during the spring season and getting very little practice, but she came through with a 73 (+2) that was not only her low round of the spring season, but gave her a one-shot lead in the championship. Martone dropped a long putt for birdie on the first hole and then simply made bogeys on three of the tougher holes the rest of the way. 
 
In a balanced attack across the roster, the other four Eagles came in with two 82s and two 83s. Senior Savannah Scott took a fairly traditional path to her 82, playing steadily on both sides. She said she made a few mental errors and missed a few putts, but felt good about the way she played overall.
 
Shaina Beach took a more interesting route to her 82. The senior started with a pair of double-bogeys and was already +10 through eight holes. She said she then "reminded herself how to play golf" and she completed the final 10 holes at just +1. She bogeyed the two par-3 holes on the back nine but birdied the closing hole, a par-5. She and Scott are tied for 6th place with a third of the championship in the books.
 
Junior Kaitlyn Gaeth, making just her second appearance in the starting lineup, turned in a career number of 83, eclipsing her old mark by four strokes.Gaeth has been working hard on her practice and tournament routines, ironing out some alignment and course management issues. Rogers pointed out that Gaeth, a former basketball player, is very athletic and that now she is starting to build the skills it takes to become a competitive golfer. She started the round with a bang, dropping a 50-yard pitch on the first hole for birdie.
 
Senior Madolin Neff had an eleven-hole stretch in the middle of the first round during which she was just +4. She held on during the remaining holes to shoot 83, putting her in a tie for 9th along with Gaeth. Neff commented on the experience of playing alongside a local amateur. "I really enjoyed getting to know my partner! She was very knowledgeable about the Marine Corps and told me some pretty cool stories about her husband, who served in Vietnam!"
 
The team score of 320 was not just the lowest of the spring, but third best of 2022-2023, and Rogers said it came at the right time. "We have not really hit our stride yet this spring, but the ladies are working hard and we're determined to have a strong showing in the ODAC Championship in less than a month. So, we needed a little momentum, which is even sweeter since it came with a lead here at Lejeune."
 
The Eagles hold a nine stroke lead over Pfeiffer University. The second round at Camp Lejeune starts at 8:40 on Saturday morning.