Lady Racers in sixth place after first round of OVC Champs

4/18/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf

The Murray State women's golf team -- the three-time defending Ohio Valley Conference champion -- finds itself off to a rocky start in sixth place after the first round of the three-round OVC Championship Tournament.

The three-day tournament is being held at the par-72, 5,868-yard Decatur (Ala.) Country Club.

Murray State shot a 341 in today's first round, just two shots behind fifth-place Samford.

Eastern Kentucky and Jacksonville State share the lead at 321, followed by Eastern Illinois at 328, Tennessee Tech at 330, Samford at 339, Murray State at 341, Austin Peay at 351 and Tennessee State at 392.

Individually, Nikki Orazine is tied for third in the 40-golfer tournament with a four-over-par 76, just four shots behind first-round leader Shanelle Howell of Jacksonville State.

Ilka Loubser is tied for 20th with an 87, while Santie Koch, April Steenbergen and Christi Baron are all tied for 26th at 89.