MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (October 18, 2021) -- It was the round of the season thus far for Kesinee Prukmathakul (Bangkok, Thailand) in the suburbs of Nashville on Monday. The freshman fired a six-under-par 66 to claim a four-shot first-round lead at the 95-golfer Music City Invitational, hosted by Trevecca Nazarene University. The performance led the way for the Franklin Pierce University women's golf team, which turned in an opening-round 305 (+17) and is tied for fourth, in a 16-team field, midway through the two-round event at the 5972-yard, par-72 Old Fort Golf Club.

Prukmathakul opened her day with a birdie on the par-4 second hole in the shotgun start and put together a bogey-free round on the day from there. Birdies on the fifth, sixth, 12^th, 14^th and 15^th gave her identical nine-hole scores of 33 (-3) going out and 33 (-3) coming back in. It was enough to not only put her in first place at the midpoint of the tournament, but to put her in first place by four shots and squarely in the driver's seat heading into Tuesday. Northwood (Mich.) senior Sydni Harding and Southern Indiana freshman Kylee Hormuth are tied with each other for second at 70 (-2).

Prukmathakul was also eight shots clear of her nearest teammate, as fellow freshman Phisonlaya Ruayruen (Chiangmai, Thailand) turned in a 74 (+2) and is tied for eighth. Farther back, junior Alia Godek (Feeding Hills, Mass.) is tied-57^th with an 81 (+9), sophomore Kayla Schuberth (Wrentham, Mass.) carded an 84 (+12) and is tied-67^th, and junior Micaela Leandro (Harlingen, Texas) is tied-74^th after shooting an 86 (+14).

It all added up to a Monday 305 (+17) for the Ravens, which was good enough to put them in a tie for fourth with Montevallo after the first round. The Ravens and the Falcons are both just five shots off the first-round lead of Christian Brothers, which put together a 300 (+12). Northwood and Southern Indiana are tied for second at 301 (+13).

The Music City Invitational will conclude with the second round on Tuesday at Old Fort Golf Club.