The Yellow Jackets totaled 330 strokes on the par-72 and 5, 963-yard Zollner layout, which is one stroke better than any of the four rounds the team shot at last year's national tournament.  Williams (Mass.) College is the overall leader with a first round total of after 307. 14-time defending champion Methodist (N.C.) University is second after firing a round of 310.   DePauw (Ind.) University and St. Olaf  College are tied with rounds of 314 and Wisconsin-Eau Claire shot 315 to round out the top five.

 

The fact that all five student-athletes have now been through one national tournament made a difference according to second-year Head Coach Alyson Campbell, the 2011 OAC Coach of the Year.

 

"It was encouraging that everyone looked and felt more comfortable," said Campbell, who also serves as an assistant women's basketball coach. "I also think that knowing this course helped (B-W won the five-team Trine Spring Invitational Tournament in mid April).

 

"There were some really good things happening on the course and we know we can shoot even better tomorrow, Thursday and Friday," continued Campbell. "We're looking forward to seeing where we stand in the team standings later today and to have a shot to go out and play even better tomorrow."

The team was led by junior two-time All-OAC student-athlete Rebecca Kapusta (Independence) and sophomore two-time All-OAC player Miranda Cunningham (Dayton/Dayton Christian) as each player carded an 80 and are currently tied for 32nd individually. Kapusta, who carries a 3.5 grade average in education, had a team-high four birdies, including on holes 8 and 9 and 17 and 18. She had a one-over-par 37 on the front, but played the back in 43.  Cunningham did not have a birdie or a double bogey.

 

The duo were followed by junior two-time All-OAC student-athlete Brooke Hamilton (Cleveland/ St. Joseph Academy) and sophomore two-time All-OAC player Rebecca Jones (Hilliard/ Darby) as each fired rounds of 85.  DSphomore 2-time first-team All-OAC player and 2012 OAC individual runner-up Emilee Woolf (Ravenna) had an 87. Hamilton, who carries a 3.94 grade average in English and philosophy and was a candidate for the NCAA Division III Elite 89 award, had two birdies and Woolf had one.