BECKER, Minn. – The Yellowjacket women's golf team opened play at the UMAC Championships Thursday. After the afternoon concluded, the 'Jackets found themselves in third place shooting a 373, the second-best collective round of the season.
 
Leading the way for UWS was sophomore Ashton Parnell (Cambridge, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti), carding a 17-over 89 to enter the logjam at fifth place. Tailing Parnell was freshman Olivia Weyenberg (Stacy, Minn./North Branch Area) firing a 91, including a birdie on the par-3 12th to take sole possession of 11th place.
 
Karin Hill (Duluth, Minn/Denfeld) sits in a tie for 12th place after ending her afternoon with a 19-over 91, also birdieing the par-3 12th. Rounding out the Yellowjacket entrants were Kenzie Tuura (Iron River, Wis./Northwestern) and Claudia Curtis (Lake Mills, Wis./Lake Mills), carding a 100 and 109, respectively.
 
Landing in first place was Northwestern, shooting a collective 341, just 53 over par. Crown secured second place with a 362.
 
Trailing the Yellowjackets in fourth place is Northland, closely followed by Minnesota Morris and Martin Luther. North Central and Bethany Lutheran finished the afternoon in seventh and eighth place.
 
Individually, Paige Johnson of Northwestern sits atop the leaderboard after finishing round one with a seven-over 79. One stroke behind Johnson is Kendall Clark of Crown with an eight-over 80.
 
The Yellowjackets continue UMAC Championship play Friday at Pebble Creek Golf Club. Tee times commence at 11 a.m.