DALTON, Ga. – Little Rock opened its title defense in strong fashion Sunday, taking the first-round lead at the 2026 Ohio Valley Conference Women's Golf Championship with a team score of 311 (+23) at Dalton Golf and Country Club.
"I'm really proud of how we competed today," Little Rock head coach
Jenna Birch said. "This course demanded patience, especially with the conditions early, and I thought we stayed disciplined and gave ourselves opportunities throughout the round."
The Trojans built separation in a challenging opening round, placing multiple golfers near the top of the leaderboard and showcasing depth throughout the lineup.
Eleonore Aernouts and Cloe Poizac paced Little Rock, each carding a 76 (+4) to sit tied for first after 18 holes. Both players posted consistent rounds, each turning in matching 38s on the front and back nine to lead the field.
"I felt like I stayed really patient out there today," Aernouts said. "The conditions were a little tricky early, but I just tried to play smart, hit fairways and greens, and not force anything. It's nice to be in this position, but the focus is on staying consistent and helping the team keep the lead."
Aernouts, the OVC Golfer of the Month for March, continued her strong spring stretch and currently leads the conference in stroke average, adding another steady round in championship play.
"I thought Eleonore and Cloe did a great job staying patient and trusting their game plans," Birch said. "They didn't try to do too much and let the round come to them."
Fehild Graesel added a strong round of 78 (+6) and sits tied for fourth, giving the Trojans three players inside the top five.
Iara Martin turned in an 81 (+9) and is tied for 11th, while
Elvira Flodstrom posted an 84 (+12) and is tied for 17th to round out the scoring five.
"I think the biggest thing was our consistency from top to bottom," Birch said. "In this format, it takes everyone, and we had contributions across the lineup to put ourselves in a strong position."
Little Rock will continue play with the second round set for Monday morning as the Trojans look to extend their lead.
Little Rock leads the team standings at 311 (+23), followed by Morehead State (322, +34), Tennessee Tech (323, +35), Lindenwood (332, +44), Southern Indiana (334, +46), Bryant (338, +50), Tennessee State (350, +62), Eastern Illinois (351, +63) and Western Illinois (355, +67).
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For the latest information on Little Rock Women's Golf, check out LRTrojans.com. You can also follow the team on social media at @LittleRockWGOLF on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
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