WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Brinn Hovde matched a career-low to lead the Linfield women’s golf team to third-place effort after the first round of the Whitman Invitational at Veterans Memorial Golf Course Saturday afternoon.

Hovde sits in a three-way tie for ninth place after carding a 10-over-par 82. Teammate Hannah Christianson is one place back (12th) with 83 strokes for the first 18 holes.

“Brinn and Hannah showed great signs of improvement today,” said head coach Brian Trowbridge.

In all, the Wildcats placed four golfers in the top 20. Sophie Corr is currently tied for 14th with a first-round score of 85 and Danielle Lungren rounds out the Linfield top four after shooting a career-low 16-over-par 88, good for sole possession of 19th place.

Whitman’s Katie Zajicek holds a three-stroke lead over the field after carding a two-over-par 74. As a team, the Missionaries placed six golfers (four scoring) in the top 10 and broke a school record with 313 strokes to open up a comfortable lead in the team standings.

Whitworth is 15 strokes back at 328 while Linfield sits in third with 338 strokes. Other first-round team scores include North Idaho (346), Warner Pacific (352) and Pacific (409). Lewis & Clark only entered three golfers and therefore did not compile a team score.

Linfield looks to lower its first round score to 330 or better and place in the top three at this event, the second of the fall season. The switch to a different course Sunday will prove challenging, but Trowbridge said he is pleased with the confidence and poise his team has shown thus far.

NEXT: Play continues Sunday, moving to the Wine Valley Golf Club. A shotgun start is set for 9 a.m.