SMITHVILLE, Mo. -- MSU Moorhead golf had a strong final nine holes to open play at the annual NSIC Golf Championships on Friday morning. After 18 holes of play, MSUM sits in a tie for 11th place following a cumulative 369 to begin the tournament. 

Halle Balluff paced the Dragons on the first day, shooting a first-round 88 with the sophomore concluding her day with a solid performance. Balluff would hit the back nine strong at Paradise Pointe, earning pars on four of the nine holes. The Moorhead, Minn., native collected a total of seven pars across her round, including six even counts on par-fours. Balluff also earned a par on the par-five ninth hole which spanned 477 yards. 

Erin Summerbell would finish just behind her teammate through 18 holes, notching a 90 in round one. Summerbell would collect a total of five pars in her round including a pair of even scores on par threes at Paradise Pointe. The senior went even on the par-three sixth and 16th holes. Ellie Fischer would be two strokes behind Summerbell, shooting a 92 with a back-to-back pars on the par-four 12th and 13th holes. The highlight of Fischer's round was her birdie on the par-three 16th hole, which spanned 132 yards. Fischer hit a dynamite approach shot off the teebox and was able to hole a birdie for her round.

Charmaine Haas would turn in a first-round 99 on her scorecard, hitting four pars in the round. Haas parred a pair of par three holes at Paradise Pointe, one of which stretching 158 yards. Regan Braun would mirror Haas' scorecard, registering a 99 with three pars in her round. 

Day two of the NSIC Golf Championships is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Saturday morning with a shotgun start. With severe weather present, any and all updates on the tournament's progress will be relayed as it becomes available.