YPSILANTI, Mich. -- After battling through a slow start, the Midway women's golf team finished strong during Wednesday's opening round of the NAIA Women's Golf National Championship at Eagle Crest Golf Club.

The Eagles began their round on hole No. 1 and struggled early, playing the front nine at 23-over par. Midway responded with a much stronger finish on the back nine, however, playing its final nine holes at 10-over par to card a 33-over 321 in the opening round.

Following round one, the Eagles find themselves in position to make the cut for the first time in program history. Midway currently sits tied for 18th and is just five shots outside the top-15 cut line and less than 10 shots out of the top 10.

Leading the way for the Blue and Gold was true freshman Anna Simpson, who was making her debut at the national championship. After opening her round with a double bogey on No. 2, Simpson bounced back with consecutive birdies on Nos. 9 and 10 to move back to even par.

The freshman encountered trouble late in the round, playing her final four holes at 5-over par, but still posted a strong 5-over 77 and currently sits tied for 32nd individually.

Kasey Cameron was the only other Eagle to shoot in the 70s, carding a 6-over 78 to sit tied for 46th in the individual standings. The sophomore battled through a difficult front nine at 7-over before responding with a 1-under back nine that included a pair of birdies.

Kelsay Collins followed with a 9-over 81, highlighted by a birdie on the par-4 eighth hole, while Savannah Salchli closed her round with a birdie on the par-4 18th to finish with an 85. Anna New, meanwhile, birdied No. 10 to begin her back nine and went on to card an 89.

Midway will return to action Thursday morning looking to make the cut for the first time in program history. The Eagles are scheduled to begin second-round play at 7:30 a.m. ET off hole No. 10.