KEVIN JENISON

GoSycamores.com

CARBONDALE, ILL.  ? The Indiana State women's golf team is off to a great start at the 16th annual Saluki Invitational as they finished the first day of the two-day tournament tied for second with two individuals in the top 10.

“We played really well today in extremely difficult conditions,” Mike Whitson, Indiana State women's golf coach, said. “Our balance was really good today and we turned in a really good team round as a result.”

The Sycamores posted a 315 total in the first round which ties Indiana State for second with Murray State. Drake, who is the defending champion, leads the competition with a 303 team total. Southern Illinois is fourth at 316 with Western Illinois sitting in fifth with a 322 total.

Indiana State was led by Smith who carded a 76 to finish the first day tied for fifth in the individual standings. Beyerl fired a 77 which places her eighth overall. Mackenzie Mack and Astrid Parsson each fired an 81 to finish the first round tied for 20th.

“For 81 to be the worst counting score on a day like today is really good,” Whitson said. “Breanne played well while Mackenzie and Astrid played decently but Christina had a great round of 77 today and I am really happy for her. We are still within striking distance of the leaders and it will take a good round tomorrow to catch them.”

Also competing for the Sycamores was Emily Dixon who shot an 86 (tied for 46th) and Britney Martin who shot an 89 (tied for 67th).

Drake's Olivia Lansing is the individual leader with a first round score of 71.

The 36-hole tournament is being played at the Hickory Ridge Golf Course in Carbondale, Ill. The final round will begin with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. (ET) Monday. The 18-hole Hickory Ridge course features 6,863 yards of golf from the longest tees. Designed by William J. Spear, ASGCA, the course opened in 1993 and is managed by golf professional Michael Day.