BIG RAPIDS — The Northern Michigan University women’s golf team is in third place among 12 teams after the first day of the three-day-long NCAA East Super Regional.

The Wildcats posted a score of 301 strokes through the first 18 holes and are four strokes ahead of fourth place.

NMU junior Haley Hewer paces the team and is in third place individually with a 1-under par score of 71. Junior teammate Karissa Guthrie and senior Avery Rochester, a Marquette Senior High School graduate, are tied for 13th, each with rounds of 75.

Sophomore Caro Els is 39th with 80, while junior Alyce Krumm rounds out the Northern team with 86.

The Wildcats will return for day two this morning. The top three teams in the 12-team field will advance to the NCAA Division II Championships.