DICKSON, Tenn. -- Tennessee Tech faced a tough day on the golf course Thursday as the Golden Eagle women's team opened play in the 2010 Ohip Valley Conference Championhips in seventh place among the eight schools at the 54-hole outing.

Junior Carley Ryhne is in contention, individually, placing herself in a tie for 10th with an opening round 77 at GreyStone Golf Club. She was the lone Golden Eagle player to score in the 70s Thursday.

Morehead State and Jacksonville State are tied for the team lead at 304, with Murray State two shots back in third place and Austin Peay two more behind in fourth. Eastern Illinois (315) is in fifth, followed by Eastern Kentucky (318), Tech (327) and Tennessee State (374).

Chelsea Harris of Austin Peay is the individual first-round leader, carding a 71 Thursday to put her two shots ahead of OVC Freshman of the Year Marisa Kamelgarn of Morehead State at 73. Four players are tied for third place at 75, meaning Rhyne is just two shots out of all-tournament position.

Senior Megan Bradford, who finished second at the OVC Tournament last year, had the second-lowest score of the day for the Golden Eagles with an 82 and is tied for 28th place. Senior Diana Carson, named second-team all-OVC for the second time in her career, is tied with freshman teammate Amanda Randolph for 31st place after shooting rounds of 84. Freshman Katherine Bell is tied for 34th at 86.

Play continues Friday with the second round. Tech players begin teeing off in the first groups of the day at 8:30 a.m., paired with players from Tennessee State.

Pictured at the OVC Tournament Thursday is senior Megan Bradford
-- photo by Dave Winder, Murray State SID