AIEA, Hawai'i---The Biola University Women's Golf Team completed their first round of the Southwest Airlines HPU Sharks Shootout at the Pearl Country Club.

The Eagles landed in the top-half of a competitive pack. Biola ended the first round of the 36 hole tournament in fifth place (303) behind first place Cal State San Marcos (290), second Hawai'i Pacific (294), third Point Loma (296), and fourth Cal State Monterey Bay (301).

Half of the teams competing in the invite are ranked by GolfStat including: No. 4 Texas A&M, No. 22 Biola, No. 24 Cal State San Marcos, No. 31 Cal State East Bay, No. 31 UT Permian Basin, No. 37 Western Washington, No.44 Point Loma, and No. 50 Simon Fraser.

Only two of those eight teams, West Texas A&M (No. 5) and Biola (No. 23) are also ranked by the Mizuno Women's Golf Coaches Association. While three others are receiving votes. 

The Eagles finished ahead of West Texas A&M, the highest ranked team in the field, by five strokes. 

"We had four solid rounds in the 70's today with Brady shooting even par," stated head coach Jane Carr. "We are in a good position to make a run up the leaderboard tomorrow, shooting 303 out of the gate was a good score for us. We know that we can go under 300 and that is what it is going to take tomorrow. Our players have a lot of confidence in their ability to come from behind."
  
Brady Turnquist led her team on the leaderboard with three birdies and an eagle. Turnquist finished tied for sixth in a field of 84 athletes. 

"Brady was two over going into hole 17 and stuck it four feet from the hole for her eagle putt which put her at even par going into hole 18," elaborated Carr. "Brady is such a strong competitor and after having shot 65 in Dallas, Texas a few weeks ago she is hungry to win this tournament. The greens aren't in the best of condition, but Brady was going at the flags today and giving herself a lot of opportunities for birdies."

Madison Voisard was second for the Eagles, tied for 14th, followed by Melanie Reyes and Rachel Shaw (T27, 78) and then Emily Cons (T68, 84). Cons competed for the first time of her career in the team lineup. 

Reyes was tied for the most pars on the course with 14 with SFU's Anaya Bhandal. 

"Melanie had an incredible round today and it is her scorecard that tells the real story," noted Carr. "Melanie had 14 pars on the day with two holes that gave her a bit of trouble, that is some amazing consistency."

Abigale Morris competed as Biola's individualist. Morris ended up tied for 81st with a score of 88. 

The Eagles will begin tomorrow (Oct. 26) at 10:30 a.m. PST with a shotgun start.