Western Washington University is eighth among 13 teams heading after the first round of the 19th Annual Viking Invitational being held at the Bellingham Golf and Country Club on Monday, Oct. 8.

The Vikings shot 332 with their three best scores all being 9-over par 82s by Kara Zitzman, Kristen Hansen and Anna Bourland. That trio is in a seven-way tie for 25th place in medalist play.

"Our struggles this fall continue," said WWU coach Bo Stephan in a press release. "Today we got off to one of the worst starts I can remember."

British Columbia is first at 307, two strokes ahead of second-place Hawaii Hilo (309). Grand Canyon and Tarleton State are tied for third at 310.

Grand Canyon is ranked No. 7 in the latest Golf World/Women's Golf Coaches Association/NCAA Division II Top 25 Coaches' Poll and Tarleton State is No. 8.

Tarleton State is coming off a victory at the Saint Martin's Invitational last weekend. British Columbia was second, WWU third and Hawaii Hilo fourth.

Grand Canyon's Kelcey Tate leads in medalist play, shooting 1-under 72. Hawaii-Hilo's Kacie Harada shot even par 73 and trails by one stroke.

WWU has won the last three titles at its tournament, placing first in nine of the last 10 years. The only blemish was British Columbia taking the 2008 crown.

The final round will be played on Tuesday, Oct. 9.