The Murray State Women's Golf squad finished the first round of the Saluki Invitational only two shots off the lead in the event being played at Crab Orchard Golf Club in Carterville, Ill.
The Racers fired a first round 301, which was two strokes behind leaders Southern Illinois and Bradley who each had a 299. Illinois State (306) stood in fourth place, while Northern Iowa (307), Drake (307), Indiana State (309), Creighton (310), and Eastern Illinois (319) made up the top-10. Western Illinois was in 11th place at 334 and Rend Lake was 12th at 348.
Murray State's Andrea Downer fired a first round 74 good for seventh place in a field of 80 competitors, while teammates Joyce Trus and Bethany Yates shared ninth place with scores of 75. Caroline Lagerborg's 77 was good for a spot in 21st, while Megan McKinney was in 39th with an 80 and Kaysin Hutching had a 96 for 76th position.
SIU's Braidy Hood and Illinois State's Tiffany Hockensmith shared the lead in the medalist race each with a 72.
The Crab Orchard course is playing to a par-70 and 5,846 yards.
The 36-hole championship ends with the final 18-holes.
Murray State is peaking at the right time in their spring season. They won an event last weekend in South Carolina and have one more tournament April 4-6 in Tuscaloosa, Ala. before playing the Ohio Valley Conference Championship April 14-16 in Florence, Ala.
