CASEYVILLE, Ill. – The McKendree University women's golf team opened play here Monday by sitting in second place out of seven teams midway through the suspended second round of the McKendree Bearcat Dual Gender Tournament held at Far Oaks Golf Club.
 
The second round was halted due to darkness after most of the seven teams in the tournament field had completed at least nine holes, with four of McKendree's five golfers having completed 10 holes. The teams will complete the suspended second round Tuesday morning beginning at 10 a.m., before playing the third and final round.
 
In the first round of play on Monday that began around 9:30 a.m. due to frost conditions on the course, the Bearcats finished in first place as they shot a 319 in cold and windy conditions at Far Oaks Golf Club. The temperature did not get above 50 degrees on Monday.  
 
Along McKendree, Rockhurst was in second place after the first round after shooting a 328 in the opening round, while Maryville was in third place with a 334 as a team. Rockhurst currently sits atop the leaderboard midway through the second round by four shots over McKendree and seven shots over Maryville.
 
Leading the way for the Bearcats was sophomore Imogen Rafferty (Derbyshire, England/Trent College) as she fired a 1-over par 73 in the first round to sit one shot in front of Rockhurst's Caroline Setter, who shot a 2-over par 74 in the first round. Maryville's Ssu Tung Lai was in third place after the first round with a 6-over par 78.
 
Heading into Tuesday's play, Setter currently sits as the overall leader as she has shot an even-par 41 through 10 holes to lead by four shots over Rafferty, who shot a 5-over 41 through nine holes in the second round.
 
In addition to Rafferty, freshman Sarah Capel (Marion, Ill./Marion) shot an opening round score of 80 to sit in a tie for fifth place, while the Bearcats' other two counters towards the team score, junior Martina Hicks (Coeur d' Alene, Idaho/Coeur d' Alene) and graduate student Rachael Kell (Nashville, Ill./Nashville), each shot opening round scores of 83 to sit tied for ninth.
 
The fifth and final golfer for the Bearcats was sophomore Dylan Kirchoff (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township) shot an opening round 85 in the first round to finish in a tie for 13th place.
 
McKendree also has a 'B' Team competing at its own event and the 'B' Team shot a 350 in the first round as a team to sit in fourth place. The 'B' Team's five golfers were able to play between 11 and 12 holes in the second round and are currently sitting in fifth place.
 
Leading the way for the 'B' Team were graduate student Paige Hamel (Glen Carbon, Ill./Rend Lake College) and freshman Audrey Cain (Godfrey, Ill./Alton Marquette Catholic), who each shot opening round scores of 85 to sit in a tie for 13th place.
 
Fifth-year senior Madeline Larouere (O'Fallon, Mo./Liberty) and junior Charli Thurlow (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) each fired opening round scores of 90 to sit in a tie for 26th place.
 
The fifth golfer for the 'B' Team was sophomore Annaston Reitz (High Ridge, Mo./Northwest) as she fired a 93 in the first round to sit in a 35th place overall.
 
McKendree also had one player compete as an individual as junior Emeline Brockland (Columbia, Ill./Columbia) shot an opening round 94 to sit in 36th place overall.