The New York University Women's Golf Team is in third place after the the first round of the Williams College Championship.

The two-day competition is being held at the Taconic Golf Club in Williamstown, MA, on Saturday and Sunday, October 2-3.

The Violets totaled 310 strokes on Saturday, 10 behind host Williams and 18 behind tournament-leading Amherst College.

NYU is two strokes ahead of fellow University Athletic Association (UAA) member Emory University.

Individually, Nalinda Wanikpun (Bangkok, Thailand/Loomis Chaffee School) is the Violets' low scorer, having posted a four-over-par 75. She is currently tied for eighth place.

"Nalinda played extremely well today," said Assistant Coach Chance Scheffing. "It's a tough course, with lots of hills and there was a strong wind today. It made club selection difficult, but Nalinda was still able to put together a great round."

Madison Phung (Frisco, TX/Lebanon Trail) (77, tied for 14th) and Camilla Chung (San Francisco, CA/St. Ignatian College Prep) (78, tied for 20th) also shot in the 70's, while Isabel Herrera (Wellington, FL/American Heritage School Boca/Delray) was the Violets' fourth scorer (80).

Overall, 10 teams and 56 golfers are competing.

"We gave away too many shots on the greens today, probably 17 or 18 strokes we could have saved," Scheffing added. "We are only 18 shots off the lead, so if we can make up one per hole tomorrow we'll give ourselves a chance to win."

The second and final round of the tournament is set to tee off at 9:00 am on Sunday.