KEVIN JENISON

GoSycamores.com

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Indiana State women's golf team struggled early and finished the first day of the Payne Stewart Memorial in ninth place after 36 holes. The tournament is being played at Rivercut Golf Course and is hosted by Missouri State University.

It was a tough day,” Greg Towne, Indiana State women's golf coach said. “We got a couple of our top players in bad situations early and they could not recover.”

The Sycamores shot a team total of 320 in the morning round but fought back with a 316 during the afternoon 18 to finish the first day with a 636 total. The University of Arkansas-Little Rock leads the field with a 593 total with host Missouri State second at 600, and Oral Roberts University third at 602.

“I think the girls put high expectations on themselves,” Towne said. “We have to realize that golf is a game of incremental improvement as well as some luck. We pressed after a slow start and often times that doesn't work out. Maybe tomorrow they can free wheel a little and move up the standings.”

Sophomore Amanda Smith is leading the Sycamore effort as she shot 79 in the morning round and 77 in the afternoon session to finish the first day at 159 and tied for 30th. Junior McCall Christopher shot 79-80 in Monday's two rounds to post a 159 and be tied for 36th.

Sycamore seniors Christina Beyerl and Emily Dixon did not have their best rounds of the season although Beyerl recovered from an 87 in the morning session to post a team low 76 in the afternoon 18 to finish the first day at 163 and tied for 49th. Dixon posted a 79 in the opening round but dropped back to an 85 in the second to finish the first day at 164 and tied for 54th.

Sophomore Gina Della Camera is tied for 61st after posting an pair of 83s in Monday's two rounds while sophomore Andrea Frankiewicz is tied for 71st after coming in with an 86 in the opening round and 84 in the afternoon session for a 170 total.

Missouri State's Emma Clegg leads the field with a 144 total and shooting rounds of 71 and 73 on Monday. Three players are tied for second at 148 including Arkansas-Little Rocks' Emelie Westrup, Oralo Robert's Shinwoo Lee, and Oklahoma City's Elia Fulch.

The final round of the tournament will be played Tuesday with a 9:30 a.m. (ET) shotgun start.