Thanks to solid rounds from its top two golfers, Ashland University's women's golf team is firmly in third place after Day 1 of the 2016 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship on Friday (April 22) in Allendale, Mich.
The Eagles turned in a Day 1 team score of 310, 18 strokes back of leader and host Grand Valley State (292). Findlay sits second at 303.
Senior Ali Green and junior Kaitlin Neumann paced the AU effort in the tournament's first 18 holes. Green fired a 1-over round of 73, tying her lowest round in GLIAC Championship play. Neumann's 3-over round of 75 was one shot off her best conference tournament score.
Green, who has finished in the top 10 in each of her first three GLIAC Championships, and placed second as a freshman in 2013, is tied for third after Day 1. Neumann is tied for seventh.
Junior Emily Jereb carded an 8-over 80 on Friday, followed by freshmen Monica Torda (82) and Morgan Eib (88).
Ashland has placed fifth or better at the Championship every year since 2005, including a third-place showing in 2015, and five straight runner-up finishes from 2009-13.
The Eagles will continue play in the three-round conference championship with Round 2 on Saturday (April 23).
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