KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – Paced by sophomore Makalyn Poole's 3-over-par 75, the Anderson women's golf team is in third place following first-round action at the Barton Invitational, Saturday afternoon at the Kiawah Island Resort's Oak Point course.

Limestone (315) and Armstrong State (315) lead the 17-team field after the opening round, with the Trojans (322) seven strokes further back. Florida Southern (323) and UNC Pembroke (323) share the fourth spot, while Queens (325) and Converse (327) are sixth and seventh, respectively. Wingate (329) is eighth, while Lenoir-Rhyne (330) and Carson-Newman (330) are tied for ninth, with Lincoln Memorial (334) holding the 11th spot.

Tusculum (337), the host Bulldogs (343), Belmont Abbey (352), Catawba (357) Chowan (384) and Newberry (395) round out the standings.

Poole reached par on 13 holes during the opening round and is even with Florida Sothern's Shannon McKew, as the duo is one shot ahead of Limestone's Eleanor Skoog (76) and Armstrong's Sophie Bargeron (76). Four additional golfers are two strokes behind the leaders. Poole is bidding for the second win of her young career after capturing the 2015 AU Invitational.

Freshman Kate Hill carded a 6-over-par 78 and is in a six-way tie for ninth, while junior Riley Lovorn fired a first-round 84 and is tied for 37th. Sophomore Blake Hodges (85) shares 46th place and sophomore Tiffany Elam rounded out the Trojan contingent in a tie for 51st following an 86.

The two-day event will wrap up on Sunday.

3 Anderson 322 322
T1 Makalyn Poole 75 75
T9 Kate Hill 78 78
T37 Riley Lovorn 84 84
T46 Blake Hodges 85 85
T51 Tiffany Elam 86 86

Team Scores
T1 Limestone College 315 +27
T1 Armstrong State 315 +27
3 Anderson 322 +34
T4 Florida Southern 323 +35
T4 UNC Pembroke 323 +35
6 Queens 325 +37
7 Converse College 327 +39
8 Wingate 329 +41
T9 Lenoir-Rhyne 330 +42
T9 Carson-Newman 330 +42
11 Lincoln Memorial 334 +46
12 Tusculum College 337 +49
13 Barton College 343 +55
14 Belmont Abbey 352 +64
15 Catawba College 357 +69
16 Chowan University 384 +96
17 Newberry College 395 +107