OLDSMAR, Fla. - The IUPUI women's golf team carded an opening round 318 on day one of the Butler Don Benbow Spring Invitational on Monday (Mar. 11) and sits seventh among the 16-team field. Teams will resume play on Tuesday (Mar. 12) with a final round at Ardea Country Club. 

Senior Annaliese Fox paced the Jaguars with an opening round, 6-over 78 and classmate Shelby Busker turned in a 7-over 79. 

"It was a rough start out there today. The wind picked up right when we teed off," Fox said. "I was trying to keep my game together. It was the first time in awhile I wasn't hitting my irons the best. I stayed focused and kept pushing through it. 

"I finished strong at the end of it all. The golf course is in great shape. I just need to pick out better targets and landing spots to play better."

Scoring was at a premium on day one as no Jaguar made birdie until well past the midpoint of their rounds. Both Busker and Fox made birdie on the par-5 No. 18, marking their 12th and 13th holes of their rounds, respectively. Busker made a second birdie later in her round and Madeleine Pape made birdie on her final hole of the day. 

Behind Fox and Busker, junior Nerea Lancho shot 8-over 80 and both Pape and Yanah Rolston closed at 81 apiece. Freshman Nina Wojtczak led IUPUI's 'B' entry with a 9-over 81 and senior Keisha Bennett shot 83. 

Fox, Pape and Rolston tied with a team-high 10 pars each on Monday and Lancho made nine. 

Western Michigan leads the field at 302 while Belmont is second at 307. Quinnipiac's Leeyen Peralta is atop the leaderboard at 72 and was the lone player to shoot par or better on Monday. She holds a two-shot lead over WMU's Megha Vallabhaneni and Jenna Hayes. 

Tuesday's round is slated for a 9:00 a.m. shotgun start.