YPSILANTI, Mich. – It took two days to do so, but the University of Pikeville completed its first-ever round in the NAIA women's golf national championship on Wednesday.
 
UPike freshman Keira Howroyd was two shots into the opening round on Tuesday when the horn sounded, pulling the golfers off the course at Eagle Crest Golf Course due to the threat of lightning and rain.
 
Two hours later, the Bears were able to complete the front nine and were between holes 10 and 13 when the horn sounded again in the afternoon. After two hours of sitting, heavy rains came down and caused an adjustment to the tournament format.
 
The opening round was stretched over two days. The second round was moved to Thursday. It will be followed by the cut, with the tournament trimmed from 72 to 54 holes and still ending as scheduled on Friday.
 
The Bears struggled for both days of the opening round, finishing the 5,895-yard, par-72 course at plus-37. The five Bears playing combined to be 11-over par after only two holes.
 
The second hole, a par four, 368-yarder, proved particularly difficult. UPike recorded two pars, but the other three had a double bogey and two triples.
 
Senior Renee Crooks led the Bears with a three-over par 75. She had two of UPike's three birdies, all coming on Tuesday. She was followed by graduate student Lauren Holmes, who finished at 79.
 
The freshman Howroyd was next at 85. Senior Carly Crooks and junior Tayla Howroyd each recorded scores of 86. For Crooks, she recovered strongly both days. On Tuesday, she was five-over after two holes and then shot an eight on the 11^th, which she was playing when the overnight delay occurred. Beyond those three holes, she was only five over.
 
UPike is scheduled to continue play on Thursday afternoon. They are in the final groups teeing off, scheduled to begin at 2:40 p.m.