TUSCALOOSA, AL – After the opening day at the NJCAA Division II Women's Golf Championship at Ol' Colony Golf Complex, the Northwest Mississippi Community College squad stayed in contention with a team score of 342, going 54-over after the first day, finishing in ninth place out of the 15-team field.
The Rangers are only three strokes out of what is currently a three-way tie for fifth place in the field and are eight strokes ahead of the team behind them in tenth.
Individually, the day was a massive success for Bella McNeil as the freshman started with four straight pars and went two-under on the final five holes to finish with a six-over 78, putting her in a tie for eighth in the standings. McNeil didn't have any scores over a bogey on the day and finished the day even on the par threes through the course.
Behind her by just five strokes is Analeigh Litte. While her start wasn't as clean as McNeil's, she had a run of seven straight pars after starting at three-over on the opening three holes. Done the stretch, Little was bitten by some bad holes, going seven over on the final eight holes, including a double bogey on the par-four 16th.
Zae'Ja Davis had one of her best rounds of the season in her opener, overcoming three triple bogeys and a double on the way to an 18-over 90, scoring a 41 on the front nine, which was keyed by a birdie on the par-four second.
Just behind Davis was Madison Baker, who was very consistent on the day, shooting a 45 on the front nine before getting a 47 on the back nine. Baker had one tough hole on the front nine with a nine on the par-five third, but she was able to rally with four pars before making the turn, where she would pick up one par with three double-bogeys.
Closing out the day for the Rangers was Sarah Niblett, who finished with an even 100 on the day with a pair of 50's on both nines. Her three pars were scattered through the round, and she had seven bogeys to go with eight holes where she had double bogeys or higher.
The four-day tournament continues on Wednesday with action beginning for the Rangers at 8:00 AM, with Sarah Niblett teeing off on the back nine. Zae'Ja Davis follows off of number ten at 8:09, followed by Madison Baker at 8:18, Bella McNeil at 8:27, and Analeigh Little at 8:36.
Follow along with the match with live scoring links available at nwccrangers.com or follow along on Northwest's social media accounts.
