The Fairfield University women’s golf team is off to a strong start at the Mount Holyoke Golf Invitational, shooting a first round 341 to play into a fourth place tie.  The event is being played at The Orchards Golf Club in South Hadley, Mass,, playing par-72 on Saturday.

Fairfield is just 10 strokes behind the events leader, Boston University (331), after the first 18-holes of the event.  Holy Cross is a stroke back in second place, and Hofstra is third at 335, before the Stags, who are tied with Hartford and St. Lawrence.

Newcomer Kristen MacDonald is the Stags low scorer after the first round, in seventh place.  She finished at +8, 80, shooting 41 on the front nine and lowering that to a 39 on the backside.  Alicia Esposito is one stroke back of her teammate, in a five-way tie for ninth place at 81, +9.  The sophomore shot 40-41 on Saturday.

Rookie Annie Sperandio is in a three-way tie for 25th place entering the second round, shooting a +13 85 on Saturday.  Sperandio shot 42 on the front side and 43 on the back.  Leah Colombo, another of the Stags’ rookies, is in a six-way tie for 54th place after one round of play.  She shot 45 on the front side, 50 on the back, to finish the round at +23.  Krista Duval rounds out the Stags roster, shooting a +25, 97 (48-49), and is in 61st place after one day.

The two-day event will conclude on Sunday, weather permitting.