COLUMBUS, Ind. - The College of Wooster women's golf team's opening round 329 has the Fighting Scots in third-place at the North Coast Athletic Conference Championship, which is taking place through Sunday at the par-72, 5,870-yard Otter Creek Golf Course.

Sophomore Morgan Erdmann's play down the stretch on Friday keyed the Scots' ability to open a 12-stroke lead on fourth-place Wittenberg University. Erdmann played the front nine, which was the women's second nine, at 2-over-par. Erdmann went 1-over-par for the final 11 holes. That equated to a 79, which is seventh in the field. Erdmann sank three birdies in a nine-hole stretch, starting with the par-5, 511-yard 18th hole. Birdie two came on the par-4, 365-yard fourth hole, while the final one dropped on the par-3, 135-yard eighth hole. The sophomore played the par-5 holes at 1-under-par on the day and tallied 10 holes at par or better.

Senior Ally Siewert was next, signing for an 80, which is tied for eighth. She too turned it on come the turn, shooting a 3-over-par 39 on the front nine. Siewert joined Erdmann's birdie party with one on the eighth hole, and the five-time collegiate medalist played seven of her last 10 holes at par or better.

Sophomore Abigail Haywood logged another steady round, resulting in an 82, which is 11th. Haywood had nine pars on the day, three of which spanned holes two through four. The sophomore was 2-over-par through six holes, starting the championship with a par on four of the six opening holes.

Sophomore Paige Nicely and senior Maddie Moran both shot 88 and are tied for 18th. Moran's 88 was a collegiate-best by two strokes. She secured it with a par on the par-4, 333-yard ninth hole. Earlier on the front nine, Moran birdied the par-5, 485-yard sixth hole. Before the turn, Moran made par on the longest hole, the par-5, 511-yard No. 18.

Nicely's round started strong with a par on three of the opening five holes. The sophomore's other big highlight came on Nos. 6-7, which Nicely had a par on both.

Denison University holds a nine-stroke lead over DePauw University. The Big Red's 303 included a women's low round of 1-under-par 71 from Isabella Dolan.

Round two is slated for Saturday, May 3, with the women scheduled for an 8:15 a.m. start off No. 1. Wooster is in the second wave, which starts at 9 a.m.