LITCHFIELD PARK, Ariz. – Having just completed a two-day tournament at the Wigwam Golf Course-Red, the Bemidji State University Women's Golf team continued their stay in Arizona and began the SMSU Spring Challenge on Thursday. The Beavers competed on the Wigwam Golf Course-Blue this time around and sit eighth after the first round.

Bemidji State carded an opening round 369 and are within striking distance of a couple of teams entering the final round. Minnesota Crookston is just three-strokes ahead (366) and fellow Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opponent Minot State is sixth with a 356. The tournament had a heavy NSIC feel with six of the eight teams representing the conference. The other two schools competing outside of the NSIC is Chadron State and Ashland. Wayne State leads the field by 13-strokes with a 309. Southwest Minnesota State and Chadron State are tied for second with 322's. Wayne State's Saffire Sayre leads the individual chase as well with an even par 72 opening a three-shot advantage.

Mollie Albrecht lands inside the top-20 through the first day after her opening round of 11-over 83 is tied for 16^th. Albrecht was consistent throughout the round hitting four pars on the front nine and then five more on the back nine.

Maddy Sawyer collected a first round 92 and is currently 38^th. She tallied three pars on the day, closing the round strong with pars on holes 17 and 18.

Isabella Depew is just a few strokes back of Sawyer with an opening round 94 and is currently tied for 41^st. She tallied a par on hole 16 and was strong over the back nine carding an 8-over.

Vaida Behnke and Savannah Byfuglien are both tied for 48^th with first round scores of 100. Behnke recorded six pars, including five over a solid front nine where she was 7-over. Byfuglien added four pars, with three coming on the back nine.

Bemidji State will start the second and final round of the SMSU Spring Challenge on Friday morning beginning at 8:24 a.m. (CST). Live results will once again be available and can be found here.

For more information on the Bemidji State Women's Golf program, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BSUBeaversWGOLF), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) and follow them on Instagram (@BSUBeaversWGOLF).
 
Located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's hockey membership in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and women's hockey membership in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).