Valparaiso closed out the first round of the Loyola Invitational in eighth place on Monday at the Evanston Golf Club in Skokie, Ill.

The Crusaders posted a team round of 346, just three shots in back of Green Bay heading into Tuesday’s final 18 holes.  Valpo has an 11 shot lead over ninth place IPFW.  Western Illinois leads the team standings at 311, four strokes ahead of the host Ramblers.

Brianna Davy (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central H.S.) and Michelle Kleckner (New Brighton, Mich./Irondale H.S.) led the way for the Brown and Gold, both carding 85s on the 5,991-yard, par-73 layout.  Erika Pfaender (Pewaukee, Wis./Arrowhead H.S.) added an 87 while Kelly Voigt (Palatine, Ill./Fremd H.S.) shot 89 to round out the Crusader scorers.  Jessica O’Brien (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton H.S.) shot 93 in her opening round.

Western Illinois’ Claire Gursh holds a one shot lead in the individual standings after carding a one-over par 74.

Valparaiso will wrap up play in the Loyola Invitational on Tuesday morning.  The shotgun start will begin at 9 a.m.