CARMEL, Calif. – The No. 11 University of North Georgia (UNG) women's golf team finished day one of The Patriot Invitational in fourth place among the star-studded, 15-team field of competition at Quail Lodge Golf Club in Carmel, Calif. on Monday. 

At 34-over par, UNG trailed Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) No. 4 Dallas Baptist (DBU) by just four shots while sitting eight shots back of No. 9 Cal State University San Marcos (CSUSM). Harvard leads the field with a combined 18-over score after the first two rounds.

Four Nighthawks shot 74 or better in the opening round at the 5,875-yard, par-71 Quail Lodge GC on Monday. 

Sophomore Abby Franks led the charge by birdieing three of her last 10 holes to finish with an even 71. 

Senior Jadin Ware birdied the par-5 1st hole to open her round and only conceded two more bogeys the rest of the loop to close at 1-over with a 72 in the opener.

Freshman Ellie Jane Riner and senior Ellie Rippee each posted a 2-over 74 in the first round. 

The scoring became more difficult as the day went on but Riner carded the best second round of any Nighthawk with a 76 to finish the day. She sits in 11th place on the individual leaderboard after 36 holes.

Junior Cora Mount utilized three birdies in her second round to make an appearance in the scoring with a 6-over 77 in round two. 

Franks entered the clubhouse one shot behind Mount for the second round with a 78. She enters tomorrow's final round in ninth place as the highest-standing UNG golfer in the 85-player field.

Ware finished with a 9-over 80 in the second round and holds a spot at 19th individually upon conclusion of play Monday. 

The Nighthawks will tee off in the final round at Quail Lodge GC at 12 p.m. Eastern time tomorrow with a chance to make a splash in their penultimate event before the postseason.