HENDERSON, Nev. – The McKendree University women's golf team opened its spring schedule here Thursday by shooting a 340 following the first round of the Legacy Invitational hosted by Winona State University and held at the Legacy Golf Club.
 
The Bearcats trail first round leader Winona State by one shot as the Warriors fired a 339 in the first round to sit atop the team leaderboard. Chadron State shot 341 to sit in third place after the opening round.
 
Senior Madeline Larouere (O'Fallon, Mo./Liberty) and sophomore Martina Hicks (Coeur d' Alene, Idaho/Coeur d' Alene) are sitting in a six-way tie for first place on the individual leaderboard as they both shot opening round 83's on the 5,902-yard Legacy Golf Club.
 
In fact, a total of 15 players are within three shots of the six players tied for first place on the leaderboard.
 
Along with Larouere and Hicks, freshman Imogen Rafferty (Derbyshire, England/Trent College) shot an 85 to sit in a tie for eighth place heading into the final round.
 
Freshman Dylan Kirchoff (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township) shot an opening round 89 to sit in a tie for 21st place.
 
The fifth and final golfer for the Bearcats was senior Paige Hamel (Glen Carbon, Ill./Edwardsville), who shot an opening round 95 to sit in a tie for 30th place.
 
McKendree also has one golfer playing as an individual as senior Brooke Boatman (Troy, Ill./O'Fallon Township) shot an 85 to sit tied for eight place. Boatman led all players in par-5 scoring as she played the course's par-5 holes at 1-under par (4.75 average).
 
The Bearcats will close out play in the two-day, 36-hole event on Friday, March 11 with a shotgun start beginning at 7:30 a.m. PT. The Bearcats will be paired with Winona State, Chadron State and Minot State in the final round.