SAN DIEGO -- Cal State LA's women's golf team has put itself in position for the best finish in the program's brief history.

The Golden Eagles, in their third spring of competition, find themselves in the middle of the pack after the opening round Monday at the PLNU Sea Lion Invitational hosted by Point Loma at the Rancho Bernardo Inn Golf Course.

Cal State LA is sixth after the opening round with a score of 319. That total puts them ahead of California Collegiate Athletic Association counterparts Cal State Monterey Bay and Chico State and leaves the Golden Eagles just seven shots out of third place.

Three first-year players led the way on Monday. Marie Dean had the best round of the day and is tied for ninth after shooting a five-over-par 77. Morgan Sjoerdsma is tied for 17th after a round of 79 and Emily Wang is tied for 23rd after a round of 81. Sophomore Caitlyn Jimenez is tied for 28th after a round of 82. Those four scores made up Cal State LA's total of 319.

Sophomore Caleigh Clark shot a round of 84 and is in 36th place after the opening round and Lisa Duran, competing unattached, shot a round of 100.

Sonoma State leads the event with an opening-round total of 304 and leads the by three shots over second-place Biola. Point Loma is third at 312, Concordia-Portland is fourth at 313, Victoria (B.C.) is fifth at 316 and the Golden Eagles are sixth at 319. Cal State Monterey Bay (323), Cal Lutheran (338), Chico State (344), Hawaii Pacific (358) and Marymount (375) complete the 11-team field.

The two-day tourney will conclude on Tuesday.