BELLE VERNON, Pa. --- Sophomore McKayla Kerle tied the second-best single round in Golden Eagles women's golf history, and the team posted one of the best rounds in recent history to kick off the Vulcan Invitational hosted by California (PA). The Golden Eagles shot a team score of 339 on Monday at Cedarbrook Golf Club, putting them in eighth place in the field.
 
The team score of 339 is the best since the Golden Eagles shot a 337 at the Charleston Invitational last season. Before that, one needs to go back to the 2011-12 season to find a better team score. Individually, McKayla Kerle shot a round of 76 , tied for the second-best round in program history. Teammate Hannah Smith shot a 76 last year at the Clarion Fall Invitational, and Jenna Rinker carded a round of 73 at the Baldwin Wallace Tournament on Sept. 12, 2009.
 
Kerle's round included one birdie – a two on the par-three fifth hole – and just six total holes over par, all bogeys. She came to the turn at a dead-even 35 before shooting a 41 on the back nine. That tied her fourth in the field through 18 holes. Hailee Liptak tied for 34^th after 18 holes with a score of 86, with the junior also sinking a birdie on the fifth hole. Smith was just two strokes behind Liptak at 88 with a birdie on the par-four12th hole. Kennady Norton and Amber Roth tied with each other for 40^th in the field with identical scores of 89.
 
McLain Alt rounded out the day for the Golden Eagles, shooting a 99 on the day.