NOBLESVILLE, IN – Senior Manisa Isavas strung together four straight birdies on Holes 12-15 to lead Toledo to a first-place standing following the opening round of the 2016 Mid-American Conference Women's Golf Championships. The tournament is being held at the par-72, 6,186-yard Purgatory Golf Club.
 
The Rockets posted a one-over par 289, good for a four-shot lead over Western Michigan (293) and five in front of No. 13-ranked and 17-time defending champion Kent State. UT's opening round was its best ever at the MAC Championships, while Isavas' three-under 69 matched former Rocket Erica Rivard for UT's best round in MAC Tourney play. Isavas' round was also the best in the opening 18 holes of the MAC Championships.
 
Isavas was one-over through 11 holes before notching in successive birdies on the par-three, 160-yard No. 12 hole, par-five, 528-yard No. 13 hole, par-four, 356-yard No. 14 hole and par-four, 378-yard No. 15 hole. She closed out her round with three straight pars to match Akron's Danielle Nicholson for the best round of the day.
 
Joining  Isavas in the Top 10 are a pair of freshmen, Natcha Daengpiem and Pimchanok Kawil, who each carded one-over par 73s and are tied for seventh place. Daengpiem notched one birdie and two bogeys, while Kawill collected two birdies and three bogeys.
 
Senior Sathika Ruenreong is tied for 13^th place at two-over par 74 after collecting her lone birdie on the par-three, 145-yard No. 17 hole. Senior Morgan Salm, who is competing in her first tournament since late February due to a wrist injury, is a stroke behind Ruenreong at three-over par 75 and tied for 19^th place.
 
The Rockets will tee off on Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. The tournament's final round will be on Sunday.
 
TEAM STANDINGS
1. Toledo 289 (+1); 2. Western Michigan 293 (+5); 3. Kent State 292 (+6); 4. Bowling Green 295 (+7); 5. Eastern Michigan 296 (+8); 6. Akron 300 (+12); 7. Ohio 301 (+13); 8. Northern Illinois 310 (+22); 9. Ball State 311 (+23); 10. Central Michigan 317 (+29)
 
TOLEDO INDIVIDUALS
T1. Manisa Isavas (UT) 69 (-3); T1. Danielle Nicholson (UA) 69 (-3); T3. Kelsie Murphy (EMU) 71 (-1); T3. Chloe Lawrie (WMU) 71 (-1); T4. Fran Rodriguez (BGSU) 72 (E); T5. Josee Doyon (KSU) 72 (E)
 
TOLEDO INDIVIDUALS
T1. Manisa Isavas 69 (-3); T7. Pimchanok Kawil 73 (+1); T7. Natcha Daengpiem 73 (+1); T13. Sathika Ruenreong 74 (+2); T19. Morgan Salm 75 (+3)