NORMAL, Ill. -- The No. 19-ranked Carleton College women's golf team sits in second place after the opening round of the 21-team Kathy Niepagen Spring Fling hosted by Illinois Wesleyan University. Carter Sichol returned to the Knights' lineup and is 1 of 2 players under par after the first 18 holes.
 
Carleton posted a team score of 298 (+10), its second-lowest tally of the season. The Knights trail No. 11 Illinois Wesleyan by 10 strokes and will enter Sunday's final round six shots in front of No. 9 St. Catherine University and 13 ahead of No. 25 Grinnell College.
 
Sichol led the Knights with a 1-under par 71 after carding two birdies and only a lone bogey with 15 pars, which tied for most in the 114-player field.
 
"Carter played great today in her first round of the spring," said Carleton head coach Sloan Wallgren. "She played very strong and consistent."
 
First-year Mindy Zhai turned in a solid round, collecting three birdies en route to a score of 74 (+2) and a tie for eighth place.
 
Cynthia Lu holed out for an eagle on the par 5 No. 7 and birdied No. 10 to finish in a tie for 11th place, a stroke behind Zhai.
 
Olivia Siebert rounded out the scoring for the Knights, reaching the clubhouse at six-over par (78)
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton tees off at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday for the final round.