SANDESTIN, Fla. -- The Christopher Newport women's golf team continued it's strong start to the 2022-23 season on Sunday, opening up the Golfweek Fall Invitational with a 305 (+17) to tie for fifth place after the first 18 holes. Senior Lauren Sims (E) led the way, tied for fifth and just six strokes off the pace in the first round of action at the Baytowne Golf Club. 

The Captains recorded a season-low 305 as a team and that mark stands as the second finest single round score for the Captains fledgling program since it's inception in 2017-18. Only a 16-over 304 in the second round of the 2021 VSGA Intercollegiate ranks better in program lore as Christopher Newport bested 310 for just the fourth time in program history. 

Sims was followed closely by rookie D'yan Robinson (+4) and sophomore Elena Rezac (+5). Robinson signed for the best round in her young career with a 76 and sits tied for 23rd on the individual leaderboard heading into Monday's second round. Rezac drained a pair of birdie putts and is tied for 33rd for CNU.

Sophomore Alex Delgado rounded out the counting scores for CNU on Sunday, firing an opening round 80 (+8). She recovered from a tough start by picking up par on seven straight holes in the middle of the round, and added three more even holes on the second nine. Heading into the second of three days of action, Delgado is tied for 61st in the talented field of players. 

Finally, Katie Watson (+14) is tied for 104th and also chipped in with two birdies on the day. She was dialed in on the par three's, shooting +1 on the day in the five short holes, including both of her under par holes. 

But the round of the day belonged to Sims, who remains in contention for medalist honors with two rounds to play. The veteran was two-under through her first 14 holes including three birdies. She went back-to-back on the back nine, dropping a four on the 448-yard Par 5 15th hole and a three on the 335-yard Par 4 16th. She added another birdie on the first hole, knocking down a three on the 325-yard Par 4. 

CNU was one of only eight teams to have three players finish at 78 or better on day one and remains in a three-way tie for fifth with Washington and Lee and Mary Hardin-Baylor. The Captains are two strokes ahead of Methodist and trail first-place Oglethorpe by just 12 strokes after day one. 

Live scoring of all the action is available -- click here to follow along -- or find the link on the women's golf schedule at CNUsports.com.