The Women’s golf team kicked off their second invitational of the fall schedule and saw some improvements. The event teed off Monday with the women playing a par-70, 6,050-yard course at the Highland Golf Club in Indianapolis, Ind.

The 11-team invitational features two Ohio Valley Conference teams (Eastern and Morehead State), two Great Lake Valley Conference teams (Indianapolis and Bellarmine). The remaining seven teams to round out the field include: Butler, Evansville, Marian University, Chicago State, IUPUI, and Vincennes University.

Despite the below average temperatures and wet course the Panthers performed well as a team on the opening day.

Eastern finished fifth out of 11 teams that were qualifying for a top seven spot with a first round score of 318.

Junior Anne Bahr led Eastern with a score of 74. Senior Chloe Wong wasn’t too far behind with a score of 79, followed by senior Alexandra Pickens (81), senior Madison Burgett (84) and redshirt junior Erika Von Itter finishing it off with an 86.

Wong credits the teams ability to stay positive and patient on the course despite the less than ideal playing conditions.

“I liked how we all kept a positive attitude on the golf course today,” Wong said. “Because there were so many people on the golf course, the round was extra slow and I think we did a good job with staying patient.”

While Wong has had some impressive scores over the fall schedule she still sees room for improvement in her game.

“’My short game still needs a lot of improvements,” she said. “I have been hitting the ball better than ever and I just need to make sure I’m making my putts.”

Pickens thinks the team is on the right track and is confident in her team after today.

“I think the best thing that we could do as a team would just be to make more pars as the season goes along,” Pickens said.

In the current standings after day one, Eastern trails top four teams: University of Indianapolis, Butler University, IUPUI and Marian University. Chicago State follows Eastern in sixth with Bellarmine University in seventh with a score of 335.

The final round will begin Tuesday morning at 7:30 a.m. with 18 holes at the Highland Golf and Country Club in Indianapolis.

Vince Lovergine can be reached at 581-2812 or vplovergine@eiu.edu