The favorites flexed their muscles on day one of the 2003 Ohio Valley Conference championship as the Murray State women and the Austin Peay men both took a commanding lead.

The Racers jumped out to a 15-stroke lead with 36 holes left to play. Murray State was able to use four scores inside the Top 13 individually. The Racers are being chased by Eastern Kentucky, followed by a tie for third between Eastern and Austin Peay.

The Panther women’s team is only four strokes behind the second-place Colonels and has three players in the Top 17 individually.

The race for the women’s individual medley is top-heavy as seven players are within five strokes of the lead. Murray State dominates the leader board as senior Stephanie Baskey opened up the tournament with a leading 4-over-par 76. However, Baskey is tied for the lead with Eastern sophomore Dale Morris. Going into the second day, Morris, the youngest Panther player, has put herself in a good situation.

The other Panther scores were Tyra Frederick posting an 82, Amanda Minchin shooting an 86 and Kristin Hoff and Brooke Pellock’s 91.

The men’s tournament is not as wrapped up as Austin Peay stands five shots ahead of Eastern Kentucky. The standings continue with Tennessee-Martin in third followed by Murray State, Eastern, and a tie for sixth between Tennessee State and Morehead State.

Individual leader Matt Gallant, who posted a 3-under-par round of 69, is leading the Governors.

Gallant has two strokes on the rest of the field as a pair of Colonels, Brandon Brown and Patrick Williams, are tied for second place with scores of 71.

Eastern has three players in the Top 19 with sophomore Ryan Lambert leading the way with a 75, a score good enough to tie for tenth place. Junior Kyle Awerkamp shot a 76 and junior Kyle Maxwell put up a 77.

The most disappointing score for the Panthers has to be Dave Rella’s. The Eastern senior opened up his last collegiate tournament with a 7-over-par 79, which places the Canadian native in 27th place and 10 strokes behind the leader.