SUNSET BEACH, NC -- Laura Orlen fired a four-over par 76 to propel host Elon to the top of team leaderboard after opening round action of the Sea Trail Intercollegiate at the Sea Trail Plantation and Golf Resort Saturday.

In the 14-team tournament, played on the 5,858-yard Willard Byrd Course, the Phoenix shot a 325 to edge Austin Peay (327), William & Mary (328), Winthrop (329) and Charleston Southern (330) for first-place honors after the event's initial 18 holes.

The rest of the field consists of Lenoir-Rhyne (344), Tennessee Tech (344), Western Kentucky (352), Bethune-Cookman (357), Gardner-Webb (357), Long Island (359), Hampton (360), Tusculum (361) and Cleveland State (487).

In the individual standings, Orlen's 76 leads the 72-golfer field. Austin Peay's Amanda Phillips (77) and Winthrop's Leigh-Ann Jeffcock (78) currently occupy the second and third positions.

In addition to Orlen (37-39--76), Elon received key performances from Sammy Sue Wilson (T4th, 41-38--79), Amy Johnson (T21st, 44-41--85), Becky Poindexter (T21st, 40-45--85) and Morgan Olds (T28th, 44-42--86). The two-day, 36-hole tournament concludes Sunday.

-- ELON --