Live Scoring of the Rio Verde Invitational...click here!

Amber Churchill is tied for first place (E) after the first round of the Rio Verde Invitational. Photo by Matt Riley

RIO VERDE, Ariz. -- Marshall University's Amber Churchill (Dublin, Ohio) is in a two-way tie for first place after the first round of the East/West Rio Verde Collegiate Invitational, which opens the 2005 season for the Thundering Herd women's golf team at Rio Verde Country Club.

Churchill shot an even par 71 and paces the field after the first of three rounds, tied with Southwest Missouri State's Megan Hanson. The Herd sophomore birdied four holes, including the 169-yard, par-3 at hole No. 8.

As a team, the Thundering Herd is in 14th place, 36 over par, with a score of 320. Michigan leads with a plus-19 and overall score of 303.

Marshall's Tammy Mahar (Ashland, Ky.) and Whitney Wolejko (Hatfield, Mass.) both shot 11 over par.

Friday's second round begins at 1 p.m. Log on to golfstat.com for live scoring of the 54-hole event.