AXTELL, NEB. – Senior Lexi Hanson and junior Lexi Jonas both carded rounds of 74 to lead the University of Sioux Falls Women's Golf Team to fourth place after the opening round of the highly competitive MIAA Invite which opened Tuesday at Awarii Dunes.

USF golfers will tee off on hole 10 with players in groups of three beginning at 9:45 Wednesday (Sept. 25) with Annie Balduzzi on the course first for the Cougars. Alex Nutter will tee at 9:54 a.m. followed  by Sydney Hubbard at 10:03; Maggie Veenendall  at 10:12; Jonas at 10:21 and Hanson at 10:30 a.m.

Central Missouri shot an 8-over par round of 296 and sit in first place in the team standings. After UCM, the next four teams have little separation. Central Oklahoma is second at 17-over 305 with Nebraska-Kearney at 20-over par 308 and just a shot ahead of the fourth place  Cougars at 21-over par 309. Rogers State is 22-over par 310 for fifth among 12 teams competing.

Jonas, a junior from Hudson, Wis., shot a career-low round of 2-over par 74 (34-40) and recorded a career-best four birdies (holes 1, 6, 14 and 18) in a round as she is tied with Hanson for fourth. Jonas opened with a career-low 34 over the front nine and finished with a 40. Meanwhile, Hanson continued her solid and consistent play this season. A senior and two-time All-Region standout from Chanhassen, Minn., Hanson entered play today with an average round of 75.5 which ranked second in the NSIC. And, she bettered that score by opening with a 38 and finishing at 36 for a 2-over par round of 74. She had three birdies (9-11-7). In five rounds in 2019-20, Hanson has shot between 74 and 77..

USF Head Coach Tavia Rutherford was pleased with her team's performance. "The team put themselves in a good spot going into round two," said Rutherford. "The undulating greens and windy conditions proved tough in navigating the golf course.  Tomorrow, we plan to be more strategic in our approach shots and club selection. I look forward to watching them compete and commit to focusing on what we can control. As a team, we will look to make a move up the leader board and contend against great regional competition," she said.

Playing as an individual, freshman Annie Balduzzi opened the tournament with a 4-over par round of 76 and is tied for 12^th.  She just missed her previous career-low round of 75 at the Golden Bear Classic last week. Freshman Maggie Veenendall carded a 7-over par 79 and is tied for 26^th place. She had her fourth sub-80 round of her freshman season. Veenendall, who had one birdie, opened at 39 and finished with a 40.

USF also had an 82 (42-40) from junior Sydney Hubbard, who was tied for 41^st. Junior Alex Nutter carded an 18-over par round of 90 (38-52).