CORTLAND, N.Y. – The Union College women's golf team carded a team round of 342 to sit in second place at the midway point of SUNY Cortland's Martin/Wallace Invitational, held at Cortland Country Club on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Garnet Chargers are in second place out of 10 teams after the first day of the weekend, sitting 27 strokes back of first-place Ithaca College and two strokes ahead of the host Red Dragons.
 
Sophomore Iyene Essien was Union's top scorer on day one, shooting an eight-over round of 80 to sit in sixth place, five strokes back of individual leader Brianna Morrison of Ithaca College. Essien shook off a double bogey on the opening hole to close the front nine with seven pars and one bogey, then added five more pars as part of a back-nine 41 to close the day.
 
Classmate Carinna Anastasio matched her best round of the season with an 81 to place seventh after Saturday. She tied for second in the field with two birdies on the day, shooting a 41 on the front nine and coming in with a 40. The sophomore was the second-best player in the field on the par-fours as well, combining to shoot just one-over par on the eight mid-range holes.
 
Senior Shea White ended Saturday in 14th place after a round of 88, while first-year Emma Doherty shot a 91 to sit in 22nd position and round out Union's top-four. Doherty joined Anastasio with two birdies on the day, both coming during as part of a back-nine 42 that moved her up the leaderboard. Sophomore Ella Golas shot a 99 as Union's fifth scoring player.
 
Playing as individuals, first-year Claire Giletta carded a round of 95, followed by seniors Emily Evans and Delaney Fox at 109 and 119, respectively.
 
The Garnet Chargers will be back on the course tomorrow for day two of the Martin/Wallace Invitational beginning at 10 a.m.