HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Fla. -- The Christopher Newport women's golf team opened up play in the 2022-23 season on Sunday with the first round of the NCAA Fall Preview event in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida. senior Lauren Sims (+6) and sophomore Elena Rezac (+6) led the way and are tied for 23rd heading into the second round. 

As a team, the Captains finished round one in ninth place with a 319 (+31), putting the team 18 strokes off the pace set by Washington University (Mo.) at 13-over par. 

Sims had an up-and-down day to sign for her 78 by leading the Captains in birdies with three, but also enduring back-to-back doubles on the back nine seeing her slip back on the individual leaderboard. Through 12 holes, she was at one-over par and in contention for individual medalist honors. Despite the setback late, she still sits just seven strokes off the lead set at one-under by Sydney Kuo (WashU). 

The CNU veteran scored birdies on the 244-yard Par 4 fourth hole and went back-to-back with birdies on 11 and 12. 

Rezac had a strong start, firing a 37 on the front nine with five pars and a birdie. She scored a two on the 104-yard Par 3 eighth hole and started the day with four straight holes at Even par. On the back nine, she added five more pars, to lead the team with ten on the day, and finished with a 78 -- good for a top-five personal finish over 18 holes. 

Also scoring on day one was sophomore Alex Delgado (+8), tied for 37th with an 80. She birdied the 357-yard Par 4 third hole to get back to Even and then added three pars in the last four holes of the front to make the turn at three-over par. She tacked on five more pars and a second birdie on the 131-yard Par 3 twelfth hole, but a late mis-step saw her slip behind her teammates with a three-over final hole. 

Rookies D'yan Robinson and Katie Watson each made their collegiate debuts and signed matching 83's in the first round. The 11-over performance for both players marks ties for the second best score in a debut round over the last three years for the Captains. Robinson finished with nine pars in the round, including a strong finish with three of the last four, while Watson dropped in a pair of birdies on par three's to highlight her action. 

Christopher Newport returns to the course on Monday to wrap up the 36-hole tournament at El Campeon Golf Course on the Mission Inn Resort. Live stats are available -- click here.