GROVE CITY, Ohio – Sophomores Megha Vallabhaneni and Jenna Hayes paced the Western Michigan golf team in the opening round of the 2024 Mid-American Conference Tournament Championship on Sunday at the Pinnacle Golf Club.
 
The duo both sit tied for 14 after shooting an opening-round of 78 (+6) on the day. They sit just two strokes out of the top 10. Graduate student Alissa Fish is just two strokes behind them after opening with an 80 (+10). Freshmen Bella Brooks and Macy Beeson both shot an 83 (+11) to round out WMU's five.
 
Vallabhaneni, Fish and Brooks each had a round-best 12 pars on the day. Hayes had a team-high three birdies.
 
As a team, WMU sits in eight place with a 319 (+31), but are just four strokes out of the top five. Just seven strokes separate fourth-place Central Michigan and Bowling Green (315, +27) with last place Eastern Michigan (322, +34). Kent State leads after combining for an opening round of 296 (+8).
 
The Broncos are back at it on Monday for round two. Coverage beings on ESPN+ at 12:30 p.m., with live scoring available at www.golfstat.com.