KEVIN JENISON

GoSycamores.com

CHICAGO, Ill. – The Indiana State women's golf team is in fourth place but just nine shots off the lead after the first day of the 2013 Chicago State University Cougar Golf Classic. The Sycamores are the defending champions and have a little bit of work to do on Tuesday to reclaim the title.

Host Chicago State has the team lead with a 306 total with Detroit second (311) followed by Northern Illinois University (314), Indiana State (315), Cleveland State (315), Texas-Pan American (316), IPFW (318), Loyola (319), Dayton (323), Creighton (324), Illinois-Chicago (325), Green Bay (334), and Eastern Illinois (334).

Senior McCall Christopher led the Sycamore effort on the first day of the two-day tournament, opening with a 39 on the first nine and coming back with a 36 on the second nine to finish tied for fifth with a first round total of 75. She is just three strokes off the lead held by Olivia Richards of Detroit who shot an even par 72.

Freshman Marissa Uradomo is tied for 13th as she carded back-to-back 39s to finish with a 78 total. She is just six shot off the lead.

Junior Erinn Sutton is tied for 24th after she opened with a 41 on the first nine but came back with a 39 on her second nine holes to finish the first day with an 80. Junior Amanda Smith and freshman Megan Berube are tied for 45th as each posted a 42 on their first nines and a 40 on their second nines to come in at 82 for the first round.

Junior Gina Della Camera is also seeing action as she carded a 45 and 44 to finish with a first round total of 89 and in 71st place.

The tournament is being played on the 5,914 yard, par-72 Starboard Course at Harborside International in Chicago. The second round will get underway at 9 a.m. (ET) Tuesday with a shot gun start.