ALOHA, Ore. – Brinn Hovde trails the leader by just two strokes, but Linfield finds itself in last place in the team standings after 18 holes at the Pacific Spring Invitational, contested at The Reserve Vineyards & Golf Club.

Hovde carded an eight-over-par 80 for the first round, good for a share of second place. The senior’s score was a season low and within striking distance of her career-low (75), which was achieved at The Reserve in October of 2011.

George Fox’s Kelsey Morrison, who has captured medalist honors five times this season – including at the Northwest Conference Fall Classic – leads all players with 78 strokes.

Alexandria Smith (Sr., Bellingham, Wash.) also finished among the top 10 golfers on Day 1, shooting an 84 over 18 holes. She sits in a four-way tie for sixth place.

Rounding out the team scores for Linfield were Maggie Harlow (Soph., Hillsboro, Ore.) and Libby Sturges (Sr., Richland, Wash.). Harlow carded a 95 for the day while Sturges, who completed her first collegiate round of golf, shot 157.

George Fox (324) slotted all four of its scoring golfers in the top five, and holds a 28-stroke lead over the rest of the field in the team standings. Other first-round team scores included: Willamette (352), Pacific Lutheran (362), Warner Pacific (365), Pacific (372), Corban (377) and Linfield (416).

NEXT: Second-round action gets underway Sunday morning, again at The Reserve.