LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Madison Banas set the pace with a 79 (+7) to lead Fairfield University Women's Golf in the opening round of the 2019 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championship on Thursday morning at Disney's Magnolia Golf Course in Lake Buena Vista. As a team, the Stags sit in eighth after 18 holes of action.
 
Fairfield is one stroke back of seventh-place Monmouth and seven shots behind Niagara with 18 holes gone and 36 left to play. Fairfield carded a 337 (+49) on its first trip through Disney's Magnolia Golf Course – a par-72, 5948-yard course.
 
Banas is tied for 13th in a 45-golfer field after the opening round, six shots off the individual pace. Alexa Brown added an 83 (+11), with Riley Sullivan turning in an 87 (+15) and Arianna Palmeri right behind her with an 88 (+16). Taylor Rogers rounds out the Stags' quintet with an opening-round 96 (+24).
 
Albany's Annika Espino shot a 73 (+1) to lead all golfers on Thursday, guiding the Danes to a six-shot lead as a team. Albany posted a 300 (+12) with Dayton ranked second on the team leaderboard with a 306 (+18).
 
The second round of the 2019 MAAC Championship tees off tomorrow morning with final round play set for Saturday.