GRANVILLE, Ohio -- All five Captains finished within four strokes of eachother including a pair of top-ten performances on the opening day of the 2025 Lynn Schweizer Invitational as Christopher Newport women's golf got out to a hot start to the season. Finishing the first round in 315 strokes, CNU is currently in third place at 23-over par and sit just nine strokes out of first place. 

Randolph-Macon (+14) set the pace after the first round and DePauw (+19) by four strokes to take second place on day one. The 13-team field will return to the Denison Golf Club on Sunday to wrap up the 36-hole tournament. 

Rookie Maddie Cameron (+5) posted a sensational debut 78 and sophomore Taylor Davis (+5) matched her efforts as the CNU pair are tied for 10th through 18 holes. Just one behind, senior Katie Watson (+6) is tied for 14th while rookie Gabi McGehee (+7) rounded out the counting scores on day one. Senior Julia Pelletier (+8) is also in the top-25 as all five Captains finished at 81 or better. 

The Captains were off to a red-hot start through six holes including six straighth pars from Pelletier. The other four picked up birdie on the 233-yard par four 4th hole and Watson had a stellar run with three straight including birdies on 3 and 5. McGehee notched her first collegiate birdie on the third hole, just moments after her rookie teammate, Cameron, had dropped in her first birdie on the fourth. 

CNU made the turn at 11-over par and threatened the top of the leaderboard with the late tee time. The back nine challenged the Captains but the talented group still sank three birdies and added 27 pars together. McGehee had a double bogey on 10 but recovered with eight straight pars to finish out her opening round 80. Cameron had 13 holes at par or better and Davis added 12 with 10 pars and two birdies. 

Cameron and Davis had matching 78's with a 38 out and 40 back in while McGehee signed for a 42 on the front and 38 on the back. Watson had a 79, out in 40 and in with 39, and Pelletier rounded out the day with a 39-42 for an 81. 

CNU will return to action on Sunday to close out the first event under first-year head coach Oda Kilsti.