PALM COAST, Fla. --- Biola University Women's Golf became the first BU team to compete in a National Christian College Athletic Association postseason event since 1988 when they opened play at Hammock Beach Resort's Conservatory Course on Monday.

The Eagles are the first team in Biola's NCAA Division II era to qualify for any sort of national postseason competition and got off to a very strong start to the 54-hole tournament, carding a 320 and sitting in third place out of nine after day one of three.

It was a toasty afternoon in Florida, with temperatures in the high-80s and the heat index well into the 90s. All the teams battled through to post some solid scores in opening the national tournament.

Sophia Karnazes was the first Eagle into the clubhouse after day one of competition. The freshman, playing in just her second collegiate tournament, opened play with a very well-played 78. She put out 12 pars and one birdie, but saw a few double bogeys weigh her score down just a bit.

Alexis Gopfert was the next to come off the course. She got off to a very strong start to the day and was sitting at even par and inside the top-2 individually midway through the first nine holes, but fell back to eight-over by the end of play. The 80 was still an excellent showing out of the sophomore who came into the day averaging an 82 this season.

Following Gopfert off the course was another Biola freshman, Marcel Manalo. Manalo matched Karnazes' 78 and sits in a tie for seventh overall after the first day. She, like Karnzazes, managed 12 pars and one birdie. Her birdie came on hole 13, a 340-yard par four. Karnazes' birdie was on a monstrous 502-yard par five.

Biola's top two scorers this season were actually the final two off the course today and had the Eagles' fourth and fifth-best scores of the afternoon. This sets the Eagles up well for the next two rounds of the tournament as those two are sure to bounce back and hit closer to their season averages.

The tournament will continue on Tuesday.