HUNTLEY, Ill. - The University of Northwestern Women's Golf team is participating in its most important tournament of the season to-date this week, teeing it up at the NCCAA North Central Regional. The two-day tournament is being played at Whisper Creek Golf Club and the winning team will earn an automatic bid to next month's NCCAA National Championship in Palm Coast, Florida. Additionally, the lowest-scoring individual that is not on the winning team will also earn an auto-bid to nationals. UNW's Morgan Eckman (Jordan, Minn./Jordan) has earned the individual bid in each of her first two seasons, going on to earn All-America honors both times. To follow along with live scoring, click here, create an account, click the green circle with a "+" and enter code JWNGHL.
 
Day One
 
With 18 holes in the books and another 18 to play, Northwestern sits in good position in second place with a score of 323 (+35), just five strokes behind the leaders from Bethel (Indiana). Eckman was lights out to lead the way, making birdies on holes one, four and 16 en route to a 73 (+1), which puts her in first place, individually, by five strokes. The Eagles' next-best finisher was freshman Brielle Lenz (Marshfield, Wis./Marshfield), who re-entered the lineup Monday and posted a 79 (+7) that included a birdie on the 15^th hole. The rookie is tied for third entering Tuesday's final round. Fellow freshman Bri Brandt (Blaine, Minn./Legacy Christian Academy) is tied for 10^th after carding an 84 (+12) on Monday, while Paige Johnson (Zimmerman, Minn./Homeschool) turned in an 87 (+15), including a birdie on the par-four ninth. Sondra Albrecht (Ham Lake, Minn./Legacy Christian Academy) rounded out UNW's day with a 90 (+18) after starting her day with three-consecutive pars.
 
The Eagles and Eckman will both vie for qualifying spots Tuesday morning in the final round of the tournament from Whispering Creek.