FARMINGTON, Pa. -- Taking on a talented field at The Tartan Invitational at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, the Christopher Newport women's golf team fired an opening round 319 (+31) and is currently tied for 11th. The Captains will return to the course on Tuesday to wrap up the 36-hole event hosted by Carnegie Mellon University. 

The second-ranked Tartans lead the event with a five-under start through 18 holes, edging out a tie for second place between No. 1 Emory and No. 10 NYU by one stroke. 

Leading the Captains on day one was senior Julia Pelletier (+5), currently 38th in the 84-player field. Katie Watson (+7) and Maddie Cameron (+8) are also in the top-50 after the first day. Rounding out the first day scoring for CNU was Taylor Davis (+11), sitting in 62nd place on the individual leaderboard. The last score on day one came from rookie Gabi McGehee (+14).

Pelletier put together an incredible run on the back nine with eight straight pars and made it nine in a row when she started the front with another. For the round, Pelletier had 12 pars and two birdies, picking up strokes on the 153-yard par three 3rd hole and the 306-yard par four 9th. 

Watson also birdied the 3rd hole and sank 10 par putts to finish just two strokes behind her senior classmate. Cameron ranked second on the team with 11 pars and the rookie added a birdie three on the 310-yard par four 1st hole. The highlight of the day came on the 11th hole where McGehee dropped in an Eagle on the 507-yard par five. It was one of only four eagles recorded in the first round by the entire tournament field. 

CNU ranked fifth in total pars as a team with 52, seven back of the tournament lead set by Washington and Lee with 59 even holes on day one. 

The second round will start at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday with another shotgun start; the Captains will play with Southern Virginia University and Methodist University starting on holes 10-13. Live scoring is available online with a link on the women's golf schedule at CNUsports.com.