MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Tech women's golf team was able to post only four of its 10 scores under 80 Monday during the first two rounds of play at the MTSU Blue Raider Invitational, leaving the Golden Eagles in 17th place heading into Tuesday's final round at Old Fort Golf Course.

Laying along both banks of the Stones River, the course baked in sunshine Monday as the 18-team field toured the layout twice. The Golden Eagles recorded a 318 team total in the first round, then matched it with another 318 on the second round.

Tech holds a three-shot lead over Northern Iowa, but finds iteslf looking up the standings at the other 16 teams. Middle Tennessee State, playing on its home course, cruised to rounds of 299 and 291 for a 590 and opened a seven-shot lead on second place Morehead State (597). Jacksonville State (598) is third, followed by Southern Illinois and Southern Mississippi (601) in a tie for fifth place.

The second five includes Lamar and Arkansas-Little Rock (604) tied for sixth, South Alabama (605), Murray State (612), while Texas-El Paso,Western Kentucky and UMKC tied for 10th at 613. The remainder of the field includes Oral Roberts and Troy (614), Belmont (619), Austin Peay (633), Tennessee Tech (636) and Northern Iowa (639).

Senior Katherine Bell was the most consistent player for coach Polk Brown's team, with rounds of 78 and 77 for a 155, placing her in a tie for 54th place. Amber Shepherd (79-81--160) is tied for 72nd place, followed by Katya Hoffman (80-82--162), Madalyn Everts (85-78--163) and Megan Williamson (81-82--163).