BUIES CREEK—Defending champion Cydney Clanton of Concord fired a one-over par 73 to open up a four-shot lead over the field in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s state 1A/2A/3A women’s golf championships at the Keith Hills Country Club on Monday.

The par 72, 5,638-yard layout proved to be tough on the field of golfers with only 17 scores under 90 on the day.

Clanton holds a four-shot advantage over Wilson Fike’s Amy Otteson. Lauren Smith of Salisbury, who last year was the runner-up to Clanton by eight shots, was third after the first 18 holes with a 78.

In the team competition, Wilson Fike carded a 163 to hold a nine-shot advantage over Salisbury, the defending champion. Jamestown Ragsdale is third, 12 shots back, and Southeast Guilford is 15 shots off the pace in the 21-team field. The best two scores of a team count toward the team totals and a total of 77 golfers are competing in the event, the fourth year that a separate 1A/2A/3A championship has been held.

Play is scheduled to get underway at eight o’clock on Tuesday morning in the final round of teh 36-hole evnet. Wendy’s and the Carolinas Ford Dealers are the presenting sponsors of the NCHSAA sports program.

NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

2006 STATE 1A/2A/3A WOMEN’S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS

Keith Hills Country Club, Buies Creek

Monday’s Results—Team Standings

1. Wilson Fike 163

2. Salisbury 172

3. Jamestown Ragsdale 175

4. Southeast Guilford 178

5. Western Alamance 179

Lake Norman 179

7. Asheboro 181

Belmont South Point 181

9. Cameron Union Pines 184

Pikeville C.B. Aycock 184

11. Mooresville 187

North Lincoln 187

13. Charlotte Catholic 191

Hampstead Topsail 191

15. Southern Lee 194

16. Eastern Wayne 198

Southwestern Randolph 198

18. Nash Central 200

19. West Henderson 203

20. Black Mountain C.D. Owen 208

21. Mountain Heritage 235

Individual Leaders

1. Cydney Clanton, Concord 37-36—73

2. Amy Otteson, Wilson Fike 38-39—77

3. Lauren Smith, Salisbury 39-39—78

4. Courtney Gunter, Porter Ridge 40-39—79

5. Laura Chang, Jamestown Ragsdale 41-42—83

Kelly Forbis, Pikeville C.B. Aycock 38-45—83

7. Megan Ulep, Belmont South Point 43-42—85

8. Lori Beth Adams, Western Alamance 42-44—86

Erin Green, Charlotte Catholic 41-45—86

Hayley Hammond, Lake Norman 42-44—86

Casey Narron, Wilson Fike 40-46—86

12. Amanda D’Ostroth, Union Pines 43-44—87

Cassie Ryals, North Lincoln 42-45—87

Emily Satterfield, T.C. Roberson 45-42—87