Pinecrest senior Kaitlyn Kruczek ended the first day of the N.C. High School Athletic Association in a tie for first place with reigning champion Leah Edwards of Northwest Guilford, and that has helped the Patriots to a first place spot in the team race as they look to win their third consecutive 4A state title.

Kruczek and Edwards finished the day at even par, shooting a 70 at Pinehurst No. 6.

With just four holes left in the round, Kruczek was 3-over par, but she recorded an eagle on the 421-yard par 5 on the 15th hole, then birdied the 18th hole, which is a 290-yard par 4.

Edwards had three birdies and an eagle on the day. The eagle came on the 5th hole, which is a 451-yard par 5. However, five bogeys kept Edwards from finishing under par for the round.

The race for first place in the individual standings also includes Northwest Guilford sophomore Emery Lewis, who is one stroke out of the lead.

Pinecrest’s team holds an eight-stroke lead over Northwest Guilford in the team standings, finishing the day with a 216, which is 6-over par. Northwest Guilford is 14-over par, posting a team score of 224.

Pinecrest junior Rachel Joynce and freshman Ashlye Lee are part of a four-way tie for fourth place, helping the Patriots to the top of the leaderboard. Xinyan Li of Marvin Ridge and Emerson Dever of Jordan are also part of that tie.

Myers Park senior Elizabeth Rudisill, who won the 4A title in 2022, is four strokes out of first place with a 4-over par 74.

Marvin Ridge (228), Charlotte Catholic (232), and Myers Park (239) round out the top five in the team standings.

The state championship tournament will conclude on Tuesday with the final day of competition at Pinehurst No. 6.

4A Girls Golf State Championship Leaderboard | Individual Standings

• T1. Kaitlyn Kruczek (Pinecrest) – 70 (E)
• T1. Leah Edwards (Northwest Guilford) – 70 (E)
• 3. Emery Lewis (Northwest Guilford) – 71 (+1)
• T4. Rachel Joyce (Pinecrest) – 73 (+3)
• T4. Ashley Lee (Pinecrest) – 73 (+3)
• T4. Xinyan Li (Marvin Ridge) – 73 (+3)
• T4. Emerson Dever (Jordan) – 73 (+3)
• T8. Elizabeth Rudisill (Myers Park) – 74 (+4)
• T8. Mary Elizabeth Harrison (Cardinal Gibbons) – 74 (+4)
• T8. Kami Caraccia (Lake Norman) – 74 (+4)

4A Girls Golf State Championship Leaderboard | Team Standings

• 1. Pinecrest – 216 (+6)
• 2. Northwest Guilford – 224 (+14)
• 3. Marvin Ridge – 228 (+18)
• 4. Charlotte Catholic – 232 (+22)
• 5. Myers Park – 239 (+29)
• 6. Green Hope – 245 (+35)
• 7. T.C. Roberson – 249 (+39)
• 8. Weddington – 258 (+48)
• 9. Hoggard – 261 (+51)
• 10. Green Level – 269 (+59)

Source: highschoolot.com