Members of the University of Tennessee women's golf team had to rise early Friday morning for their first round in the Mercedez Benz Collegiate Championship at Cherokee Country Club.

But two key players did not begin making a move with their golf games until the afternoon on the back nine.

With the help of 4-under-par 32s on the backside from senior captain Marci Turner and Nicole Smith, the Lady Vols fought back to finish tied for second with Alabama at 4-over 288 in the team standings. Turner shot 70 to lead UT, while Diana Cantu had 71, Angela Oh 73 and Smith 74, following a nearly disastrous 42 on the front nine. Ginny Brown, whose score did not count in the team scoring, shot 82.

Arkansas (285) is in first, Florida (289) sits at fourth, Purdue (291) fifth, and Auburn and Michigan State (292) share sixth.

Rounding out the top 10 are Denver (293), Virginia (294) and LSU (295).

Turner said she hopes her back-nine score gets her out of a slight slump that began in last weekend's Lady Tar Hill Invitational in North Carolina, where she finished 44th.

"I am tired of playing badly," the Tompkinsville, Ky., resident said. "Last week's tournament was bad for me and I don't want this one to be bad, too. I figured I might as well go for the pins as hard as I can and see what happens."

She also has another motivation in the tournament - it is her last time to play for the local fans, other than next spring's SEC tournament in Loudon.

"It is going to be hard to end it," Turner said. "I am trying hard not to think about it being the last one."

Taking an opposite route to almost the same score as Turner was Cantu. The sophomore from Monterrey, Mexico, was 2-under after the front, but she hit her ball out of bounds on No. 12 and made a double bogey on her way to a 38 on the back nine.

"It wasn't a bad round, but it wasn't a good finish," Cantu said. "I am going to go out tomorrow and start strong and finish strong."

Kathleen Ekey of Alabama has a one shot lead at 68. Trailing her at 69 are Laura Kueny of Michigan State, Stacy Lewis and Lucy Nunn of Arkansas, Junthima Gulyanamitta of Purdue, and Sandra Gal of Florida.

The electronic scoreboard at the clubhouse accidentally flashed Ekey's score as 5 while she was still out on the course. But the junior transfer from Furman still had much about which to be pleased.

"I have been playing really well," said Ekey, who hopes to play on the Ladies Professional Golf Tour. "I'm right at the edge every time. I am just trying to stay patient."

While several were giving her congratulations, Ekey was praising the golf course.

"It really challenges you," the Akron, Ohio, resident said. "You can't hit bad shots out here and get away with it."

Tennessee golfers playing only in individual competition are Rachel Ingram and Rebecca Watson, each of whom shot 77.

Play resumes today and ends Sunday.

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.