PALM DESERT, Calif. --- Sophomore Marcel Manalo shot a team-best 77 during Thursday's first round at the Augustana Spring Fling while the Eagles posted a team score of 328 to perch themselves in fourth-place heading into Tuesday.

Head Coach Jane Carr's group was one of just four teams in the 10-team field to record a score under 330 on the 6,025-yard course at the Desert Willow Golf Resort. The Eagles are just 14 strokes behind PacWest peer Point Loma for first place and are just two shots back of Northeastern State University for third-place.

Manalo posted the best 18-hole score of the four rounds she's played this calendar year with her 77. After starting the morning on hole 17, the Yorba Linda, California-native picked up a birdie on four and eight to score a 38 on the front nine. Manalo then walked off the course with a 39 on the back nine after going even-par on the 10 par-four holes she faced on the play-through.

"Marcel moved from the number-five seeded player in the line up to the number one spot tomorrow, shooting a smooth 77 that included five birdies," said Carr. "Marcel is one of those sneaky good players, she plays a quiet game and carries herself with such ease on the course. It was evident today that she was striking the ball well and working hard to save par when she missed greens."

Manalo's score over the front nine was matched by the two women playing as individuals for Biola: Mary Karnazes and Rachel Reynolds. Karnazes birdied holes five and eight to score a 38 on the front nine and added another birdie at 13 on the way to a +11-mark on Thursday. Reynolds finished the front nine in a team-low 37 strokes before finishing with the second-best first round score from Biola's group, 79.

"I always want our individuals to gain experience, learn something new, and push our team to be better. It was great to see all three of those things come together today," said Carr. "Mary has been a four year-player and having her maturity and wisdom on the road is so encouraging to the team.  Rachel is still getting use to collegiate tournament pressure and I think she proved to herself today that she can compete successfully at this level."

Good closing pushes from Jules Loibl and Tori Roeske helped both juniors finish at +9 after day one, which places them in the top-15 of the individual leaderboard. Sophia Karnazes and Sami Penor both shot an 89 to make Biola one of just three teams to have all of its players complete the first round in under 90 shots.

"Sophia and Sami both struggled today shooting 89, 89. It isn't often that either or both of these players has a bad day on the golf course, it was just unfortunate that they both had one on the same day," said Carr. "I could tell that they were fighting to find their rhythm out there and I do think that the format today (riding in carts rather than walking) was to their detriment. I know many people might think it is easier to ride than walk, but in this case you are riding with your opponent and the distraction makes it difficult to get in your own zone. I know they will come out stronger tomorrow."

The strong start for Biola in a smaller field is no uncommon occurrence for Carr's roster because the Eagles have won all three competitions they've played in this year that have had nine teams or fewer. With the entire team present on the trip for a morale boost, the Eagles will try to stretch that streak to include a win in a 10-team tournament on Friday when the final round starts at 8 a.m.

"Despite today's tough round, the team knows that we are still in 4th place and just 14 strokes off the lead.  The players are also aware that we are chasing Point Loma, another PacWest team, who we beat just last week at Cal State East Bay," said Carr. "I think the girls are very focused on playing target golf tomorrow and picking up strokes that they gave to the field today. We spent a lot of time this evening talking about what we learned and strategizing certain holes that were detrimental for us today. This team is more of a 'come-from-behind' team. I know they are excited to play alongside Point Loma tomorrow and will be more focused and determined than ever."