Women’s golf coach Kelley Hester needed few words in describing her star Marta Silva Zamora’s opening-round 2-under-par 70 at the Eat A Peach Collegiate in Macon.

“She’s just that good,” said Hester of her star sophomore taking a one-shot lead. “Marta just does her thing, and she does it well. I wouldn’t be surprised to see her go low again tomorrow. I certainly hope so. I think we needed her score today. She seems to do pretty well with the lead.”

Despite Silva Zamora’s impressive first-round play, the Lady Dogs still sit 10 shots back of leader Florida State in third at 10-over-par 298.

“It’s a tough little golf course. It doesn’t look too difficult because we play at a relatively short yardage, but the greens are tough and you can’t overpower it,” Hester said of her team’s struggles with the 6,181 yard layout of Idle Hour Golf Club. “I think we tried to overpower the golf course a little bit, and we have some room for improvement.”

The Dogs also aren’t playing with a full deck with sophomore Milena Savich unable to make the trip due to flu-like symptoms. “She doesn’t even feel bad now, but the doctor wouldn’t let her travel,” Hester said.

Combating the loss of Savich was an uncharacteristic round from star freshman Emilie Burger, who shot a 5-over-par 77, and is looking for her third consecutive top-10 finish.

“Emilie Burger has been so strong this year, and she was a little off of her game today,” Hester said.

Unfortunately for the Lady Dogs, their third best score of the day wasn’t in the starting lineup with freshman Abby Johnson, who is competing as individual, firing a 2-over-par 74, effectively costing them four shots as they were forced to count Kendall Wright’s 6-over-par 78 instead.

“Abby was solid,” Hester said of Johnson’s play. “I was really excited for her with this being her first college round.”

The Bulldogs will wrap up the two day tournament today before competing in the Fall Preview Oct. 23.