RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico – Freshman Kate Hill fired a 1-over-par 72 and sits in a tie for second place just two strokes off the pace, as the Clemson, S.C., native, led the Trojans to sixth-place following first-round action at the Illinois-Springfield Island Getaway, Monday at the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar.

The two-day event is being hosted by the Prairie Stars on the par-71, 6,083-yard Ocean Course layout.

Tarleton State leads the eight-team field by a comfortable 12 strokes over St. Leo, which is in second place. St. Edwards is four strokes further back in third, with Texas Wesleyan holding the fourth spot.

Illinois-Springfield is fifth, with the Trojans just one shot further back in sixth. William Jewell and Manchester round out the field.

Hill carded three birdies, while reaching par on another 13 holes en route to the lowest round of the season for the Black and Gold. She is even with Casey Wild and Breann Smith, both from Tarleton State, along with St. Edwards' Johany Rivera, who are all two shots behind Tarleton State's Kerbey Kipp, who carded a 1-under-par 70.

Sophomore Tiffany Elam posted a 7-over-par 79 and is in a five-way tie for 15th, while junior Riley Lovorn shares the 20th spot after carding an 8-over-par 79. Sophomore Samantha Ellison is alone in 35th place following an opening-round 87, while fellow sophomore Makalyn Poole is just behind in 36th with an 88.

The event is slated to wrap up Tuesday.

1 Team Scores
1 Tarleton State 288 +4
2 St. Leo 300 +16
3 St. Edward's 304 +20
4 Texas Wesleyan University 311 +27
5 Illinois-Springfield 315 +31
6 Anderson 316 +32
7 William Jewell Coll. 330 +46
8 Manchester University 385 +101