ST. GEORGE, Utah – A 6-over-par 78 from Sarah Kellam helped the Northern Kentucky women's golf team finish the opening day of the Pizza Hut Lady Thunderbird Invitational hosted by Southern Utah tied for 11^th-place.
 
Kellam has been a steady presence for the Norse among the counting members of the team. Her first round 78 places the sophomore in an eight-person tie for 17^th and just two strokes away from the top-5.
 
Kristen Smith is one stroke back after shooting 79. Smith is competing as an individual and currently sits in the top-25 of the event.
 
Identical 8-over-par rounds for Ryleigh Waltz and Kennedy Windlan have the duo sitting in a tie for 36. The other countable score on day 1 for the Norse is senior Taylor Wogenstahl, who carded an 83.
 
MacKenzie Laumann and Allison Leigeb joined Smith competing as individuals, posting scores of 82 and 87, respectively.
 
Although sitting in 11^th, the Norse are well within striking distance of a top-5 team finish. Eastern Washington is knotted with the Norse at 33-over (321), while Nebraska-Omaha (10^th, 320), Weber State (9^th, 319), South Dakota (8^th, 318) and Cal Poly (7^th, 317) all sit within several strokes.
 
Utah Valley and South Dakota State carded rounds of 314 and are tied-fifth, just seven shots ahead of Northern Kentucky.
 
An 8:30 shotgun start will kick off the final round of the tournament on Friday morning.