KIRKWOOD, Mo. (April 17, 2022) – Junior Caroline Dayton and freshman Jolie Brochu both find themselves in the top 20 on the individual leaderboard following the opening 18 holes of competition for the Loyola University Chicago women's golf team at the Missouri Valley Conference Women's Golf Championship in Kirkwood, Mo. 
 
The Ramblers totaled a 321 during first-round play at a rain-soaked Greenbriar Country Club (par 71; 5,830 yards), a mark that has them in ninth place in the team standings, but only 12 shots out of third. 
 
Indiana State (304) sits atop the team race, with Missouri State (308), one of the pre-championship favorites, four strokes back in second.  Evansville's Mallory Russell and Northern Iowa's Hannah Bermel are tied atop the individual leaderboard after each carded a two-over-par 73. 
 
Dayton and Brochu turned in rounds of 78 to lead the attack for the Maroon & Gold today just outside of St. Louis.  Out of Ottawa Hills, Ohio, Dayton birdied two of her last three holes on the front nine to close her first nine holes of the day at three-over-par, while Brochu, a native of Goodrich, Mich., played the back nine at an identical clip.  Both members of the duo are part of a tie for 19^th place. 
 

Senior Lorenza Martinez finished the day with a team-best four birdies en route to an 80 that has her tied for 33^rd.  Sophomore Abby Thielbar is five shots back in 45^th following an 85.  Freshman Grace Suter sits 47^th after rounding out the Rambler starting five today with a 90.