NORTHFIELD, Minn. – After traveling each of the last three weekends, the Carleton women's golf team stayed close to home on Saturday, hosting the St. Olaf/Carleton Spring Invite at Willingers Golf Club.  The Knights shot an opening round 325 (+37) to sit third, eight strokes behind leader St. Catherine heading into Sunday's final round.
 
Junior Carter Sichol led the way for Carleton, putting together a smooth round.  The Winnetka, Ill., native racked up 13 pars on her way to a five-over-par 77.  She went out with a two-over 38 on the front nine after a bogey on the par-four ninth hole.  Coming back in, she fired a three-over 39 on the back side, which included a string of five straight pars.  Her 77 is tied for second on the individual leaderboard, three strokes behind leader Laura Beltman from Bethel with one round to go. 
 
Senior Olivia Siebert followed with an eight-over-par 80. Siebert carded a 44 (+8) on the front nine before putting together a strong back nine.  The Glencoe, Ill., native tallied seven pars with consistent play.  She birdied the par-four 13th and bogeyed the par-five 15th on her way to the 80, which puts her in a three-way tie for 10th following the first round.
 
Sophomore Mindy Zhai and junior Cynthia Lu carded matching 84s (+12), while junior Sarah Zheng posted a 15-over-par 87.  Zhai and Lu each went 42-42 on the two sides, including a pair of birdies on the front nine.  Zheng opened with a 45 on the front nine before coming in with a 42 on the back nine.
 
First-year Anna Lee and junior Natalie Tatar each competed as individuals on Saturday.  Lee put up an opening-round 84 (+12) with a 44 on the front nine and 40 on the back nine to tie Zhai and Lue for 22nd.  Tatar closed Saturday's round with a 16-over-par 88 after a 41 on the front nine and 47 on the back. 
 
Up Next for the Knights
The Knights will compete in the final round of the two-day event tomorrow at Willingers Golf Club.  Carleton will tee off on hole one beginning at 9:10am.