Chattanooga, Tenn. – The University of North Georgia (UNG) women's golf team kicked off its 2026-27 campaign at The City With Spirit Fall Classic on Monday evening, finishing day one of the tournament in third place among 16 teams. 

After the first 36 holes at the Cleveland Country Club, Lincoln Memorial sits atop the pack at eight-over par. Lander holds itself at second with a score at 20-over. The Nighthawks round out the top three at 25-over par, with 11-over and 14-over marks in the first two rounds. In a field of 89 golfers, all five Nighthawks finished day one inside the top 30. 

In the opening round, Ellie Jane Riner led the way for the Nighthawks, shooting one-under 71 to put UNG in a solid position early.  

Abby Franks, Mackenzie Connell and Leigh Allen all posted identical rounds of 76 (+4), while Camryn Wright rounded out the first round at six-over par for North Georgia. 

Round two once again saw Riner post a top score for the Nighthawks, as the junior finished the second 18 at 75 (+3). The Havana, Fla. native finds herself at two-over and leading North Georgia, tied for ninth place overall. 

For the second-straight round, Franks and Connell posted identical scores, this time at 75 (+3), as both players made a five-place jump into a tie for 19th. 

The biggest climber of the second round was Wright, who jumped 11 spots to 30th after a five-over 77 finish to the day. 

Allen closed out round two at 79 (+7), as the sophomore finished that day tied with her teammate Wright in 30th at +11. 

The Nighthawks will look to climb the ranks even further in the third and final round of the tournament Tuesday morning at 9 a.m.