The Pinecrest girls are tied for third place at the end of Monday's first day of the NCHSAA state 4-A girls' golf championship.

Kerry Radigan, 82, Tiffany Phasukkan, 86, and Katie Roberts, 92, combined for a team score of 260 that tied the Patriots with New Bern. Grimsley at 251 and Athens Drive at 256 lead in the team competition going into the final day on Tuesday at Pinehurst No. 1.

Katie Kirk of North Mecklenburg, Courtney McKim of Wakefield and Courtney Taylor of Ashbrook share the individual lead after shooting rounds of 75.

Early tee times provided a big advantage for the field of 78 golfers.

Starting at 9:50 a.m., Radigan was in the middle of her round when the temperature and intensity of the wind changed dramatically.

"The weather started out really nice," the Mid-Southeastern Conference Golfer of the Year said. "I actually had tights on and had to take them off because it was getting too hot. Most of us took off our jackets about the fifth hole.

"Then somewhere after we made the turn, the wind was insane. The clouds came out too and it got really cold."

Radigan finished the front nine in three-over-par before the change in conditions took its toll. Later, the wind was blowing so hard in the faces of the three players in Robert's group that they all hit metal woods on the 138-yard, par-3 18th. Each came up short. In the next group, Phasukkan became the first golfer in some time to hit the green, reaching the putting surface with a 5-iron.

There were some good scores among the group of players finishing early that were competing as individuals and not members of teams. In addition to the 75 by Taylor, Lizzie Bundy of Clayton and Jessica Hook of Ashley both came in at 77.

Two of the Patriot players wanted to head for the practice range after their rounds, but coach Sandy Sackmann convinced them to go home and get warm.

The weather forecast calls for stronger winds and temperatures in the low 40s or high 30s Tuesday morning.

"It could get worse tomorrow," Radigan said, "so we've got to get used to it."