FLEETWOOD, PA – The York College women's golf team owns the lead after day one of the two-day Middle Atlantic Conference championship tournament at Golden Oaks Country Club in Fleetwood, PA.

The Spartans shot a day one score of 324 as they hold a 15-stroke lead over second place Alvernia. The Golden Wolves hold a 19-stroke advantage over third place Arcadia as the Knights shot 358 as a team. Hood (368) is in fourth while King's rounds out the top five at 397 in the nine-team tournament.

The Spartans were led in round one by two-time defending champion Natalie Robson as she shot a five-over 77 as she is in third place in the individual standings. Stevenson's Casey Oppenheimer and Eastern's Marin Dremock are tied for first as they shot matching 74's.

Robson was solid on the front after a rocky start. Robson was three-over through four holes but rallied to rip off five straight pars to end her front nine. She started the back with a pair of birdies sandwiching a bogey on 11. She alternated pars and bogeys over the final six holes as she shot a two-over 38 on the back.

Freshman Tori Blanc is one shot back of her senior teammate as she fired a 78 in her first MAC championship round. Blanc had six pars and three bogeys on the front for a 39. She started the back with a birdie but had a double bogey on 11 before settling in and shooting a 39 on the back for her 78.

Fellow freshman Grace Strickland is the third Spartan in the top five as she is tied with Hood's Mary Emma Guldi with a score of 80. Strickland was three-over-par through three holes but she birdied five to get a stroke back before she had two bogeys and two pars to end the nine with a four-over 40. Strickland opened the back nine with a bogey followed by a trio of pars. She had a tough stretch between 14 and 17 as she had two bogeys and a double to go along with a par. However, Strickland ended the round with a great birdie on 18 to finish with a 40 on the back.

Freshman teammates Jessica Shay and Vivian D'Orazi finished the opening round tied for 16^th with matching 89's. Shay opened with a front nine 45 and shot a 44 on the back for her 89. D'Orazi was the opposite as she shot 44 on the first nine followed by a 45 on the second nine.

The Spartans return to the course on Sunday morning as tee times are scheduled to begin at 11 am.