CATOOSA, Okla. – Arkansas Tech junior golfer Josie Roberson shot a one-over (71) in the opening round of the 23^rd-annual NSU Golf Classic on Monday and is tied for the individual lead through 18 holes of action. As a team, the Golden Suns are in fourth place and just nine strokes back of the team lead.
 
Roberson's solid first round saw her rebound from front-nine score of three-over (39) after three bogeys during the first nine holes. Before she made the turn, Roberson was starting to settle her round with consecutive pars on holes eight and nine.
 
Roberson then extended that par-streak to six-straight holes as she made par on holes 10-13. On 14, Roberson dropped a stroke making a birdie on the 534-yard, par-5. Two more pars followed on 15 and 16. On 17, Roberson carded her second birdie to drop to one-under for the round. She would maintain that score with a par on 18.
 
Through the first round, Roberson is tied atop the individual leaderboard with Hanna Lignell of host Northeastern State.
 
In addition to Roberson, the Golden Suns got solid opening rounds from senior Katie Whitfield and freshman Ellen Spigner. Whitfield would shoot five-over (75) and is tied for 11^th. Spigner, in her first collegiate golf action was one stroke off Whitfield and it tied for 17^th.
 
Newcomers Meeky Winyarat and Hallie Jones rounded out the lineup scoring for the Golden Suns with each carding rounds of 84 and tying for 55^th.
 
The second and final round of the NSU Classic will take place on Tuesday and will continue to be played at the 5,839-yard, par-70 Cherokee Hills Golf Club in Catoosa, Okla.