KNOXVILLE, TENN. (Oct. 8, 2004) - Junior Amber Weinerth (Auburn, N.Y.) fired a 3-over-par 74 Friday to lead the Penn State women's golf team into first round action at the Mercedes-Benz Women's Championship in Knoxville, Tenn.

The Nittany Lions are tied with James Madison for 16th place with a 321. Arkansas leads the event with a 5-over-par 289, Ohio State is second (293), Kent State is third (296), Tulsa is fourth (297) and Tulsa (298) rounds out the top five.

Weinerth is currently tied for 18th place overall. Junior Lauren Lundy (Wayne, Pa.) shot a round of 80, junior Katrin Wolfe (Johnstown, Pa.) fired a 83 and sophomore Evelyn Paik (Toronto, Ontario) and sophomore Maggie Lester (Oswego, N.Y.) are even each shot a round of 84.

Action at the Mercedes-Benz Championship will continue at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Cherokee Country Club.

Mercedes-Benz Women's Championship
(Friday at Cherokee Country Club)
Par 71, 5,932 yard layout
Team scores:
1. Arkansas, 289;
2. Ohio State, 293;
3. Kent State, 296;
4. Tulsa, 297;
5. Tulane, 298;
6. Northwestern, 299;
7. (tie) Louisiana State and Swedish Jr. Nationals, 302;
9. (tie) Purdue and Michigan State, 303;
11. Kentucky, 307; 12. Tennessee, 309;
13. Virginia, 311;
14. Alabama, 314;
15. UNC-Wilmington, 320;
16. (tie) James Madison and Penn State, 321.

Top 10 individuals: 1. (tie) Holly Cantwell, Tennessee, and Gabby Wedding, Kent State, 69 (-2);
3. (tie) Gena Johnson, Arkansas, and Mandi McConnell, Michigan State, 70;
5. (tie) Dana Je, Ohio State, Ina Kim, Northwestern, Amanda McCurdy, Arkansas, and Alison Walshe, Tulane, 71;
9. (tie) Audrey Gale, Alabama, Leisl Hasbrouck, Tulsa, Lindsay Knowlton, Ohio State, and Violeta Retamoza, Tennessee, 72.

Penn State finishers:
T18. Amber Weinerth, 74;
T63. Lauren Lundy, 80;
T82. Katrin Wolfe, 83; T86. Evelyn Paik and Maggie Lester, 84.