RIO GRANDE, Ohio - The Midway women's golf team's quest to get back to the NAIA National Championships got off to a great start Sunday, as the Eagles jumped out to a four-stroke lead through the first round of the River States Conference Championship.
The Eagles began the three-day tournament with a 34-over par score of 322. Saint Mary of the Woods came in second at 326 with three-time defending champion Indiana East in third at 331.
Leading the way for both Midway and the field is
Maryssa Phillips, who finished Sunday at two-over par with a 74. She's currently three strokes ahead of Indiana Kokomo's Hailey Stegemann for the top spot.
After five bogeys and no birdies on the front nine, Phillips had a great showing on the back end, improving by eight strokes with a three-under 33. She didn't have any bogeys on the back-nine while recording birdies on the par-four 11th, 14th and 16th holes.
She was one of three Eagles to end the opening day in the top-10.
Kasey Cameron came in sixth with an 80 (+8) with
Bree Smith finishing 10th with an 83 (+11).
Rounding out the scoring was
Savannah Salchli in 15th (85, +13) and
Sophie Lester in 21st (91, +19).
Round two at the Glade Springs Golf Resort will commence Monday morning.
