ABBOTTSTOWN, Pa.  – The Catholic women's golf team started off its spring season on Saturday afternoon in the first round of the McDaniel Spring Invitational. The Cardinals finished the first day firmly ahead of the rest of the field, holding a 15 shot lead to be in first place out of the 11 teams. 

Gabi Courtney led the way for the Cardinals finishing her round with an 81 (+9) to have the team's best round one score and sit in second on the leaderboard. She shot a 42 on the front nine with a pair of birdies and proceeded to collect five pars and a birdie on the back nine to finish with a 39 to be just two strokes off the individual lead.

Catholic had two other players sitting in the top 10 after the opening round in Lauren Wright and Brooke Smith. Wright found herself in a tie for sixth after shooting an 85 and put together a solid back nine by parring four of her first five holes. In total, she had seven pars and a birdie during her round. Smith sits in 10th place after shooting an 87 where she tallied six pars in total.

Meghan Mullen and Mary McGuire rounded out the Cardinals lineup by shooting a 90 and a 93 respectively. Mullen's score has her sitting in a tie for 12th, while McGuire is perched in a tie for 20th.

Catholic's 'B' team had some solid performances as well, including Harper Capilli, who finished the first day 11th in the field with an 88 while pouring in six pars. Isabelle Seratch and Tyler Zierski also sit in the top 30 with a 95 and 98 respectively.

The Cardinals will conclude the McDaniel Spring Invitational on Sunday, March 29 at The Bridges Golf