MADISON, Wis. -- Continuing a strong start to the fall season, the Christopher Newport women's golf team put together an outstanding opening round at TPC Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon, firing a program-record 19-over round of 303. The Captains lead the field of 17 teams by four strokes after day one and registered four players into the top-15 on the individual leaderboard led by senior Elena Rezac (+3), tied for third. 

Playing on the Par 71 track in Madison, Wisconsin, the Captains finished the opening round in the fewest strokes of any round in program history. Setting the record at 303, the Captains shaved one stroke off the previous mark set in 2021 at the VSGA Intercollegiate with a 304. 

In addition to making history as a team, three of the CNU finishers wrote their names into the top-ten all-time in Par 71 single round scoring with their efforts on Saturday. Rezac is now tied for third all-time with an opening round 74 while Alex Delgado (+5) and newcomer Ayla Browning (+5) each slot in tied for eighth with matching 75's. In a display of well-rounded aptitude, Taylor Davis (+6), tied for 14th, would also have joined the top-ten prior to this weekend. 

Rezac had a mostly clean front nine before making the turn at Even par with a pair of birdies and a pair of bogeys. She added a third birdie on the par three 14th hole and finished just three-over par. She had ten more pars to add to her strong start to the fall season after finishing with runner-up honors in the debut tournament two weeks earlier. 

Heading into Monday's second and final round, Rezac trails Grace Walker (Centre) by just two strokes. 

Delgado gave strokes back on just four of the 18 holes on Sunday with a very clean scorecard that included a team-high 11 pars and two birdies. She picked up a stroke on the par five 2nd and again ont he par three 16th hole. Browning has settled into the college game quickly and poured in three birdies in her opening round. 

Rounding out the counting scores for CNU on Sunday was Taylor Davis, who finished with a bang on back-to-back birdies. Her only two birdies of the day came at the very end of the round, including one chipped in from off the green. She closed out the round two-under in her last four holes and finished the day at six-over with a 77. The rookie was making her collegiate debut at TPC Wisconsin and posted the finest first round for a CNU women's golfer since Alex Delgado burst onto the scene with a four-over 76 in the 2021 NCAA Women's DIII National Preview. 

CNU also got a ten-over 81 from Katie Watson on day one and the junior is currently tied for 31st. That means all five CNU golfers are in the top-third of individual finishers after the first day, thanks to Watson dropping in nine pars on day one. 

In first place on day one, the Captains have a four-stroke lead on Centre College in second while Randolph-Macon is stalking at seven strokes back. There is a logjam on the team leaderboard after that with Illinois Wesleyan (+31) in fourth separated by just eight strokes from UW-Whitewater (+39) in eighth. 

The Captains and the rest of the 96-player field will return to action on Monday morning. The course was drenched prior to the 1:00 p.m. tee time on Sunday, but the forecast looks clear for the second round with cool temperatures expected in the low 60s. Live scoring is available by clicking here and a full recap will be available at CNUsports.com following the action.