CABOT, ARK. – Led by the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year Lexi Hanson, who carded an opening round of 78 (38-40) and sits tied for 19th overall, the University of Sioux Falls Women's Golf Team is 11^th with a 328 after the opening round of the Natural State Golf Classic at Cypress Creek Golf Club. USF will play another 18 holes as the two-round, 36-hole tourney wraps on Tuesday.

With an even par round of 288 Missouri St. Louis leads team race and is following by Arkansas Tech at 10-over par and 298 in second and Southwest Oklahoma State at 19 over par and 307 in third. With a 40-over par total of 328, USF is 11^th and tied with Arkansas Monticello but just a shot behind Central Oklahoma at 327 for 10^th and only three shots from seventh place (Harding, 325).

On a cold, wet day, USF totaled 42 pars and four birdies on the day. Leading the way was Hanson, who had a solid start to her day with a two-over par 38 through the front nine.  Then, she had a 40 on the back nine to finish at 78. She had a birdie on hole 18 and 10 pars as she finished tied for 19^th at six over par.

Senior Sydney Hubbard checked in at a nine-over par 81 (40-41) as she showed consistency all day. Hubbard, who is tied for 27^th, had eight pars on the day.  

Tied for 35th is senior Kyleigh Moran with an 82 (44-38). After a 44 and four pars on the opening nine, Moran jumped up the leader board by carding a 38 which was two-over par in the last nine holes. She finished the day with 10 total pars and a birdie on hole nine.

Tied for 67th are both sophomore Annie Balduzzi at 87 (45-42) and senior Lexi Jonas 87 (45-42). Jonas opened with a 45 and had a birdie on hole 13 before registering five pars in her nine-hole total of 42. Balduzzi, who had seven pars on the day, opened with a 45 and closed with a 42 as she finished 15 over par.

Junior Marisa Weeks had a solid outing in her first competition at USF. Weeks played as an individual and shot a 13-over par 85 (41-44). Weeks had a birdie on hole seven and added four pars to her round.