OWENSBORO, Ky. – The McKendree University women's golf team opened up play here Saturday in its final event of its 2021 fall schedule by shooting a 323 as a team to sit in first place out of six teams following the first round of the Kentucky Wesleyan Invitational held at The Pearl Club.
 
McKendree holds a six shot lead over Maryville (329) and a 16 shot lead over third place Ashland University (339). The final three teams in the field are Brescia, who shot a 351 to sit in fourth place, while Kentucky Wesleyan is fifth with a 356 and Purdue-Northwest is sixth with a 375 as a team.
 
Leading the way for the Bearcats in Saturday's opening round was senior Paige Hamel (Glen Carbon, Ill./Edwardsville) as she carded a 6-over par 78 to sit in a tie with Illinois-Springfield's Madison DeRousse, who is playing in the event as an individual. Both Hamel and DeRousse are one shot in front of Maryville's Ssu Tung Lai and Brescia's Brooklyn Spicer, who each shot opening round 79's.
 
McKendree's No. 2 counter on Saturday was sophomore Martina Hicks (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho/Coeur d'Alene), who shot a 9-over 81 to sit in a four-way tie for sixth place. Hicks is tied with senior Brooke Boatman (Troy, Ill./O'Fallon Township), who is playing as an individual.
 
Freshman Imogen Rafferty (Derbyshire, England/Trent College) and freshman Dylan Kirchoff (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township) each shot first round scores of 82 to sit tied for 10th place.  
 
The fifth and final golfer on Saturday for McKendree was senior Madeline Larouere (O'Fallon, Mo./Liberty), who shot an 83 to sit in a tie for 14th place.
 
McKendree and the other six teams will complete the event with a final 18 holes on Sunday, Oct. 31.