GALESBURG, Ill. - Illinois College got off to a strong start Friday in looking to win its fourth consecutive Midwest Conference Women's Golf Championship. The Lady Blues opened with a 345 to lead the three-day, 54-hole tournament by 34 strokes over Monmouth College (379) at Soangetaha Country Club in Galesburg, Ill. Grinnell College and Knox College are tied for third with 384s. Ripon College shot a 386, Carroll College finished with a 396 and St. Norbert College opened with a 400.

An Illinois College golfer is the individual clubhouse leader, but it's not three-time defending conference champion Carey Cappel. Kristen Schmalz is the first-round leader after firing a 7-over 81. Cappel and teammate Janelle Kuhn each carded an 86 to give Illinois College the top three individuals after the first day. Cappel is looking to become the second golfer in league history to win individual medalist honors at all four league championships in her career. Grinnell's Hilary Minnick is the only other student-athlete to accomplish the feat after winning titles in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001.

Ashton Heath, from host Knox College, is in fourth after shooting an 87 Friday. Ripon College's Gina Heckl is fifth with an opening-round 88.

Illinois College is trying to become the first team in MWC history to win four consecutive league titles in four years. Knox won four straight championships between 1996 and 2001, but no championships were contested in 1997 or 1999. The 2006 tournament marks the first time the MWC Women's Golf Championship is scheduled as a three-day, 54-hole event. The Soangetaha Country Club features an 18-hole, par-74 USGA Championship course.