CROZET, Va. -- On a Friday that featured heavy rain, a five-and-a-half hour delay, and two separate shotgun starts, the ODAC managed to get in 18 holes to open the women's 2023 golf championship. The Bridgewater Eagles, led by senior Savannah Scott, posted a solid score of 325 and put themselves in third place after day one.
 
Tee times were supposed to start Friday at 9 AM, but two inches of rain fell overnight and in the morning, so Old Trail Golf Club was not ready. The ODAC decided to shoot for at least nine holes starting at 2:30 PM, and hoped to play nine more if time and weather allowed. Somehow 18 holes were completed on a sloppy golf course just before dark, and Scott came through with a strong score of 75 to pace the Eagles.
 
On her third hole (#17 after a shotgun start), Scott dropped a twenty-foot downhill putt for birdie and she made no worse than bogey on the first nine, coming in with a 39. When it was determined that play would continue into the evening, Scott came back out and birdied two of her first six holes, ultimately shooting 36 (+1) on the second nine. She is in 2nd place, tied with the reigning ODAC Player of the Year (Megan Kanaby, W&L) and three shots behind the reigning ODAC Champion, Emily Brubaker (Lynchburg).
 
"It was windy, chilly, and wet out there, but Savannah seemed relaxed and composed," said head coach John Rogers. "It was great to see her play without stress and to hang with some of the other elite players in the conference." Her 75 is the second best mark of the season for Scott.
 
Similarly, fellow-senior Madolin Neff tied her second-best score of the season, coming in with a 79. Neff was steady with a 41 on the first nine, but closed the day with six holes at +1 to shoot 38 coming in. She birdied the par-5 third hole late in the round to maintain momentum. She is tied for 7th.
 
Sophia Martone has had limited practice and playing time in recent weeks, but she came out driving the ball well and managed a 41 on the first nine. She was on track for a similar back nine, but had a triple bogey on her final hole after finding a water hazard, and she completed the round with an 84. "Hopefully we'll see Sophia at 100% again one of these days. Last year she finished second in this championship as a freshman, and when she is healthy, she can play with anyone in the conference," said Rogers. Martone is tied for 14th place.
 
Senior Shaina Beach played steadily most of the day, and had a stretch of seven holes she completed at +1, but she also had three bigger numbers, including a triple-bogey on the tough closing hole. She finished in 87 strokes and is tied for 18th.
 
Junior Kaitlyn Gaeth has had an amazing spring season, during which she dropped roughly four strokes from her fall average, which was already five strokes better than last year. On Friday, though, she said she had trouble finding a consistent ball-flight, and she turned in a 93. She is in 27th out of 34 competitors.
 
For much of the day, the Eagles stuck close to the two favorites in the conference, #10-ranked W&L and Lynchburg (#33), but fell back late in the round. Both of the highly-ranked teams shot 309, leaving Bridgewater sixteen strokes back.
 
The Eagles are scheduled to return to the course at 2 pm Saturday, the late tee times courtesy of the ODAC schools, who agreed to a late start for round two so that two Bridgewater seniors can attend commencement ceremonies in the morning. "With the crazy weather, delays, unscheduled shotgun starts, and everything else going on, we're really thankful to the conference, and the other member teams for letting us add a little more chaos to the weekend," noted Rogers. "Shaina and Savannah have not only been excellent athletes, but outstanding scholars, and it's important to them and their families to celebrate their graduations. I'm glad the weather and shifting plans have not taken this moment from them, and this is really what the DIII experience is all about."
 
The Eagles hold at least twenty eight stroke leads over four other ODAC squads, and the Eagles have never finished lower than third in the championship.