Valparaiso University women's golf fifth-year senior Katelyn McCoy (Chesterton, Ind. / Chesterton) posted the team's best score in Monday's first round of the 36-hole Braun Intercollegiate, hosted by Evansville at the par-72, 6101-yard Oak Meadow Golf Club in Evansville, Ind. This marks the final tournament of the fall season and is a familiar destination for Valpo, as the team has played in this event 12 times since the program launched in 2009.
 
How It Happened

• McCoy is vying for a top-10 finish in the 73-player field, as she is tied for seventh at 77 (+5). She finished strong with birdies on two of her final three holes on Monday.
• Senior Keira Cotter (Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada) posted a 79 (+7) including a birdie on Hole 11. She is in the top 20 at t-19.
• Freshman Olivia Bailey (Rochester, Ind. / Rochester Community) was the third Beacon with a score of 80 or better, as she needed 80 strokes to get through the first round, highlighted by a birdie on Hole 15. She played a five-hole stretch on the back nine at -1.  
• The Beacons are tied for sixth of 11 on the team leaderboard at 318 (+30). Southern Illinois leads the way at 308. Indiana's Zoe Arcus is entered as an individual and leads the field with a 73.

Thoughts from Head Coach Jill McCoy
"We started strong today, then lost a little steam at the end. Katelyn's putting was strong and helped her hold on to a good round. Hopefully everyone can start out strong and keep the momentum going in Round 2."
 
Up Next
The final round of the fall season will take place on Tuesday. A link to live scoring via Clippd is available on ValpoAthletics.com.