Highlights
Team Leader: Illinois (310-316/626) Oakland Place: T7 of 13 teams (317-332/649) Individual Leader: Dana Gattone, Illinois (76-74/150) Oakland Leader: T20 - Elle Nichols (77-83/160) Low Round: 72 by Lena Gautier, Northern Illinois (2nd Round) and Jessie Sindlinger, Iowa (2nd Round) Low Oakland Round: 77 by Elle Nichols (1st Round) Results: Day 1
Coverage
Live Stats

IOWA CITY, Iowa - Elle Nichols is tied for 20th place and Marianna Stepp improved four strokes in her second round to lead the Oakland women's golf team after day one of the Diane Thomason Invitational, hosted by Iowa, at Finkbine Golf Course (par 72, 6,142 yards) on Saturday.

"Today's conditions required mental and physical toughness which we obviously didn't have this afternoon," said head coach Russ Cunningham. "Tomorrow will tell me a lot about who truly wants to compete."

The Golden Grizzlies finished tied for seventh with Boston Univeristy with a day one score of 649. Nichols carded a 160 with an opening round 77 to finish day one in the top 20, 10 strokes behind leader Dana Gattone from Illinois. Stepp shot a second round 79 to score 162 and is tied for 32nd, while Morgan Smith is in a tie for 44th with a 165.

Illinois holds the lead heading into the final round after shooting a 50-over-par 626. South Dakota State is one stroke behind with a 627, followed by Iowa with a 628.

The final round will begin at 10:00 a.m. ET tomorrow morning with a shotgun start. Live stats are being provided at golfstat.com.

#WearTheBear