WILLIAMSBURG, VA -- Laura Orlen fired a tournament-leading 72 to pace Elon to a first-place tie with Notre Dame after one round in the 19-team William & Mary Invitational at Ford's Colony Country Club on Saturday afternoon.

Entering Sunday's second and final round, the Phoenix and the Irish both card a 312 for a four-stroke advantage over their nearest competitors, Appalachian State and host William & Mary. Big South Conference foes Winthrop (318) and Radford (335) are currently in ties for fifth and 11th, respectively.

Orlen and William & Mary's Ann Schnell each followed up front-nine 37's with back-nine 35's to share the top spot among the 97 individuals. Winthrop's Katie Allison and Notre Dame's Shane Smith are both two shots back with 74's.

Elon also received strong performances from Beth Frace (T15th, 39-39--78), Angela Baskette (T21st, 41-38--79), Katie Knoepffler (T38th, 42-41--83) and Amy Johnson (T38th, 43-40--83).

--ELON