ROCK HILL, S.C. – Appalachian State’s women’s golf team closed out the opening day of the Winthrop University Intercollegiate on Saturday in first place after firing a 292 and leads Winthrop and St. Francis by 17 strokes.

The Mountaineers were led by matching 72s, as Yue Xu and Rumbidzai Masamvu posted the lowest scores of the invitational. Mimi Burke and Lauren Smith each finished their rounds with matching scores of 74, tying them for third overall. Elena Thomas carded a round of 80, putting her in a tie for 24th overall.

Following the tie for second in the team standings, defending tournament champion Gardner-Webb is in fourth with a 310 and South Carolina State follows at 315. Bethune-Cookman finished the first round with a 317, while Presbyterian College nabbed the seventh position with a 319. Converse College rounded out the field with a 341.

Sunday’s final round from Rock Hill Country Club is set to begin with a shotgun start at 8 a.m.