Isn’t it amazing how big women’s basketball has become?

Isn’t it amazing how important women have become in areas where they were not always so influential? In a way, basketball is just hand in hand with everything else … which is great.

For instance, I have grown familiar by name with several women sports announcers.

I had many women colleagues when I wrote about NASCAR for a living. I used to think it was kind of a backhanded slight. Large newspapers – they had them back then – were under pressure to make women hires, and they didn’t want to trust women to cover, say, Clemson, so they sent them to the race track.

I also used to stereotype women sports writers. I got it in my head that they didn’t really know the X’s and 0’s, so most of their stories dwelled mainly on personalities.

I have changed. I now think that of most sports writers, regardless of gender.

I was wrong. In truth, most of the writers assigned NASCAR beats didn’t know much about it when they arrived on the scene. They soon learned all about the way it is now, or was then. My advantage was historical perspective.

I saw Richard Petty win on dirt. Jarrett won my first race. Ned Jarrett.

This edge I carry on the site. In grade school, I spent the night several times at Cally Gault’s house and jockeyed for position as a ball boy at Blue Hose games. My dad played against King Dixon. My mother told me what a gentleman he was long before I knew it firsthand. I played for Keith Richardson. I worked for Dick Sheridan at Furman. I sat in minor-league press boxes next to Hank Aaron. I had a profane shouting match with Dale Earnhardt. Several times.

All writers, not to mention third baseman and sales … persons, play to their strengths.

Anna Morgan’s opening round was not her best at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, which is being held this week in Augusta, Ga.

The senior from Spartanburg went 4-over-par on the back nine at Champion’s Retreat Golf Club, shooting 74 to tie for 44^th after 18 of 54 holes.

Hannah Darling of Scotland (-6) holds the first-round lead after shooting a 66 on Wednesday. 

An international field of 72 women amateurs, including the top 43 eligible amateurs in the final World Amateur Golf Ranking of 2023, is competing over three days of stroke play. 

A cut will take place after Thursday’s round, advancing the leading 30 players and ties to the final round at Augusta National Golf Club.

 Morgan will tee off on hole No. 10 at 9:32 a.m. on Thursday and will play in a group with Kokoro Nakamura of Japan and Farah O’Keefe of the United States again.

The entire field will play Augusta National for an official practice round on Friday.

Furman has extended by two years its partnership with Ingles Markets, which now runs through the 2025-26 school year.

Ingles Markets will maintain its title sponsorship of the Furman Fan Zone, a central hub for pre-game festivities located just outside Paladin Stadium, offering live entertainment, food and beverage options, and family-friendly activities. The partnership also supports key in-game promotions.

“Ingles’ commitment to Furman has not only enhanced our athletics game day experience, but it also positively impacts our students, the city of Greenville,and the Upstate of South Carolina. We are very fortunate to have a partner who selflessly supports our programs while matching the core values of Furman University,” stated athletics director Jason Donnelly.

Lauralee Scott is Southern Conference Student-Athlete of the Week.

Scott posted a 2-1 record and 3.17 ERA in five appearances over the past week, including a complete-game effort in Furman’s 4-3 upset of No. 17 Clemson on Tuesday evening. The victory marked Furman’s first triumph in eight tries against its upstate rival and its second win over an ACC foe in three tries this season.

Scott, a health sciences major from Greenwood, holds a 3.82 GPA.

The Paladins (18-18, 3-3 SoCon) step back into SoCon play this weekend with a three-game series at Mercer. Saturday’s doubleheader is set for 2 p.m., with the series finale to be played at 1 p.m. on Sunday. All three games will be streamed live on ESPN+.

Sierra Bower is SoCon women’s outdoor track athlete of the week.

A junior from Carbondale, Colo., Bower posted a personal-best time of 16:03.89 in the 5,000 meters at the Raleigh Relays, which were hosted by N.C. State. Her time leads the SoCon this season and ranks 15th in the NCAA East Region and 36th nationally.

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