PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- The St. Johns University womens golf team placed two golfers among the top three individuals, leading the Red Storm to a second-place finish after the first round of play at the Rutgers Invitational, being played at the Rutgers Golf Course in Piscataway, New Jersey.

Led by sophomore Jacylyn Sanders (Bright Groves, Ontario, Canada) and freshman Christen Thomson (Fort Frances, Ontario, Canada), St. Johns carded a 53-over par 331 and stand three strokes off the pace of host Rutgers entering Saturdays final round. Georgetown is in third place at 55-over par 333, with Penn, Boston College and LIU tied for fourth place at 56-over par 334.

Sanders is in second place with a five-over par 77, two strokes off the pace of Rutgers Jeannine Mondesando. Sanders posted three birdies during her 18 holes on Friday and averaged 4.4 strokes on par-five holes.

Thomson, meanwhile, is tied with two other golfers  Hartfords Nicole Saad and Mt. Holyokes Kara Solem  for third place with a six-over par 78. Thomson birdied three holes and averaged 4.6 strokes on par-five holes.

Freshman Tracy Bolger (Haddonfield, N.J.) is tied for 40th place at 15-over par 87, sophomore Jennifer Rhee (Rydal, Pa.) is tied for 51st place at 17-over par 89 and freshman Katie Lebel (Mooretown, Ontario, Canada) is tied for 59th place at 20-over par 92.

The final round of play will be held on Saturday morning.