8RICHLAND, Wash. -- Montana Tech's women's golf team leads the way midway through the Columbia Basin Invitational following a strong opening round Sunday. 

The Orediggers carded a three-woman team score of 41-over-par 258 to hold a seven-stroke lead over second-place and tournament host Columbia Basin College. 

Samantha Benson is the leader in the clubhouse on the individual board following her opening-round 83 at the par-72 Meadow Springs Country Club. The Montana Tech senior leads teammate Casha Corder and CBC's Adri Ruffing by a pair of strokes. 

Kodie Hoagland also logged a scoring round for Tech, and the junior sits tied for fifth at 89. 

The tournament, scoring the top three scores of six entries for each team, will continue Monday with the second round. 

Visit Montana Tech athletics' home online, GoDiggers.com, anytime for up-to-the-minute news and coverage of the Orediggers. Give Montana Tech athletics a like on Facebook, and follow the Orediggers on X and Instagram at @DiggerAthletics.