GAM

EAST LANSING – Liz Nagel (Dewitt) and Sarah Hoffman (Saline) were tied atop the leaderboard after the first round of stroke play at the 97^th Michigan Women’s Amateur at Walnut Hills Country Club Monday. Nagel and Hoffman played in the same group and finished their round at 7 p.m. after two long rain delays. “Believe it or not, this is not the worst rain delay I’ve been in,” said Nagel. “But I really just wanted to finish the round and go home. It just makes for a long day.”Nagel has been stroke play medalist at the Michigan Women’s Amateur twice: in 2012 at Forest Akers and in 2010 at St. Clair Golf Club.Jacqueline Setas (East Lansing) had the second best round with a 72 followed by Ella Pendy (Grosse Pointe Farms) with a 73. Pendy, who is a sophomore on the University of Michigan women’s golf team, says she was not hampered by the constant rain that caused the start of the tournament to be delayed for one hour. “I really do not mind playing in the rain,” said Pendy. “I kind of prefer it. I just like cooler weather and I kind of like playing in the rain. It does make the greens softer and less challenging.” 2011 Women’s Amateur champion Christine Meier (Rochester Hills) finished with a 74 as did Jennifer Elsholz (Grand Rapids)and Elle Nichols (Okemos). Defending champion Emmie Pietila finished with a 78. The Women’s Amateur features two 18-hole rounds of stroke play then moves to match play for the final three days of the tournament. The first round of stroke play was delayed twice due to lightening; once at 3:15 p.m. and again at 5:45 p.m. Only about half of the players had finished their round at the time of the second delay.