SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Sophomore Iyene Essien of the Union College women's golf team carded a two-over 75 to hold the individual lead by six strokes at the midway point of the Union Fall Invitational, held on Saturday at Mohawk Golf Club.
 
As a team, Union shot a 352 on Saturday to sit in second place out of five teams, 15 strokes back of first-place Ithaca College and six shots ahead of third-place SUNY Cortland. St. Lawrence University (374) and Vassar College (391) rounded out the field after day one of the two-day event.
 
Essien had an eventful day on the par-73 course for Union on Saturday, carding three birdies and an eagle as part of her round. The sophomore had two birdies on the front nine to go out in 39, then made the turn with a birdie on the par-four 10th and an eagle on the par-five 11th to quickly get under par. Three bogeys and four pars the rest of the way put her at even for the back nine and two-over for the day.
 
Senior Shea White carded an 87 on Saturday to sit in ninth place at the midway point of the weekend, using a pair of birdies on the back nine to come in with a 42. Sophomore Carinna Anastasio finished day one with a 92 to place 13th, followed by classmate Ella Golas in a tie for 16th place after a round of 98. Senior Delaney Fox shot a 104 playing as an individual, while first-year Emma Doherty finished with a 113.
 
The teams will be back in action tomorrow for the second day of the Union Fall Invitational beginning at 11 a.m.