Gianni Burnette started her senior season in style for the Orange women’s golf team.
In the opening meet of the year, Orange finished highest among Big 7 Conference teams in the season-opening meet at Hope Valley Country Club in Durham. On Monday, the Lady Panthers came in third with 156 strokes. East Chapel Hill finished 1st with 139 strokes, while Chapel Hill came in second overall at 152.
Burnette, a senior, finished highest among Big 7 Conference individual players, shooting a 49 over nine holes.
East Chapel Hill’s Isabella Shen paced the field with a 42, five strokes better than Chapel Hill’s Josie Furberg, who carded a 47. Lady Panther junior Grace Dunlap came in eighth place with a 51, tied with Seaforth’s Annika Johansson, who was the Hawks’ highest finisher.
Cedar Ridge came in sixth place. Senior Sarah Zylowski finished 13th overall with a 55. Natalie Slagle and Isabella Soffera also compete for the Red Wolves, under the direction of head coach Chris Casey.
Burnette has been a four-year member of Orange’s varsity team. She qualified for the 5A State Championships after finishing fifth in the Big 7 Tournament last year. She also qualified for the 5A NCHSAA State Track and Field championships last May.
In addition for Orange, senior Madison Edwards finished 15th, shooting a 56. Ella McCay, the daughter of former Orange High and UNC baseball player Matt McCay, came in 19th with a 58. Charlotte Terrey shot a 61.
