The Northwestern women’s golf team is tied for second place after the first round of the NCAA East regionals in Columbus, Ohio.
The Wildcats, with an 11-over 299, are tied with Central Florida, and Big Ten rivals Ohio State and Michigan State.
All four teams are four strokes back of Big Ten champion Purdue, which is at 7-over.
Four teams, including No. 2 Duke, are tied for sixth place at 12-over — one stroke behind NU.
Freshman Elizabeth Burden, who is tied for fifth after firing an even-par 72, led the field for NU.
Christie Hermes is tied for 14th after a 2-over 74 and Emily Gilley is tied for 33rd after a 4-over 76. Upperclassmen Karen England and Kristen Beystehner finished the day tied for 52nd and 66th, respectively.
North Carolina’s Marcy Newton shot a 67 to lead the tournament at 5-under.
There are two more rounds left to play on Ohio State’s Scarlet Course before the top 11 teams and three individuals advance to the NCAA championships later this month in Sun River, Ore.
