OMAHA, Neb. – Katie Kesti shot an even-par round of 72 to lead the Omaha women's golf team and a field of 43 players in the first round of the Creighton Classic at Oak Hills Country Club.

The Mavericks are tied with Bellevue for third after the first 18 holes with a team score of 327.   South Dakota leads the event with a score of 312 while the host Blue Jays are second at 321.  

The final round begins at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday.  It will be the Mavericks' last round of the fall season.

Kesti's score was her lowest round of the fall by five strokes and also was the team's individual low round so far this season.  She is two strokes clear of South Dakota's Abby Dufrane who carded a 74 on Monday.

Sophie Peters is second for UNO and tied for 14th overall with an opening round score of 82.  That puts her three strokes ahead of teammate Megan Vetrovsky who shot 85 to put her in a tie for 21st.

Makenna Kroeker is fourth for the Mavericks and in a tie for 32nd after shooting a round of 88.  Alexa Ruwe shot 95 to tie for 40th, and Katelyn Studthoff, playing as an individual, shot 101.