COLUMBIA, S.C. – Paced by sophomore Kate Hill's 7-over-par 79, the Anderson women's golf team is in fourth place following first-round action Monday at the Newberry College Invitational.

The 36-hole event is being hosted at the 5,830 yard, par-72 Members Club at Woodcreek, which will also be the site of the South Atlantic Conference Championship in April.

Florida Southern leads the two-day tournament by four shots over Wingate, with Lincoln Memorial nine strokes further back in third place. AU trails the Lady Railsplitters by just one shot entering Tuesday's final round, while North Georgia is one stroke behind the Trojans. Queens, Newberry and Mars Hill round out the eight-team field.  
 
Wingate's Laura Nunez Rodriguez fired a 2-over-par 74 and holds a one-shot lead over Florida Southern's Ashley Zagers and Victoria Cangero in the chase for individual medalist honors, with six additional golfers within three shots of the lead.

Hill is tied for 10th after reaching par on nine holes and carding a pair of birdies on the day. Junior Tiffany Elam and freshman Anna Freeman each posted 80s and share the 12th spot, while junior Makalyn Poole is tied for 21st following a first-round 83. Senior Riley Lovorn posted an 84 and sits in a five-way tie for 26th.

Tuesday's second round is slated to get underway at 8:30 a.m.

1 Team Scores
1 Florida Southern 308 +20
2 Wingate   312 +24
3 Lincoln Memorial  321 +33
4 Anderson   322 +34
5 North Georgia  323 +35
6 Queen's  330 +42
7 Newberry   340 +52
8 Mars Hill  364 +76

4 Anderson  322
T10 Kate Hill  79
T12 Tiffany Elam 80
T12 Anna Freeman 80
T21 Makalyn Poole 83
T26 Riley Lovorn 84