SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Union College women’s golf team carded a round of 334 to hold a six-stroke lead after day one of the Union Fall Invitational, held at Mohawk Golf Club on Saturday afternoon.
 
Union shot a 334 for the second straight round to hold a six-stroke lead over Vassar College and a 15-stroke edge on St. Lawrence University at the midway point of the weekend.
 
:”Conditions were beautiful from start to finish,” said head coach Matt McPhillips. “The greens were rolling like a marble off a counter top, but our players left themselves in the correct spot for the most part, thanks in part to their local knowledge. Forecast looks good tomorrow and we hope to close out our fall season with a strong finish.”
 
First-year Iyene Essien sits in a tie for second place individually after a round of 80 on Saturday, four strokes back of Vassar’s Teaen Sweet and tied with Mary Grace McCann of St. Lawrence. Essien finished the way with four birdies, including three on the back-nine as she came in with an even-par 36 after a challenging front nine.
 
Senior Liz Bentsianov sits in a tie for fourth place after a round of 82. She birdied the par-four 6th hole as part of a front-nine 43, then came in with six pars and three bogeys to finish strong. First-year Carinna Anastasio carded the best round of her young collegiate career, shooting an 84 thanks to dual nines of 42 to sit in sixth place after day one.
 
Junior Shea White finished the day with an 88 to place ninth after the first day, while senior Katerina Dimacopoulos is in 13th place after a round of 100. Playing as an individual, first-year Ella Golas carded a round of 102 to round out Union’s entries.
 
The teams will be back on the course tomorrow for the second and final day of the Union Fall Invitational beginning at noon.