Amara Lytle earned a top-20 finish in the first tournament of the year to help St. Ambrose to sixth place at the Highland Championship played at Highland Springs in Rock Island, Ill., Sunday and Monday.

Lytle shot back-to-back 82s to finish with a 164 to lead the Bees to a top-half finish in the 13-team event. She tied for 18th individually.

In her first collegiate tournament, freshman Addy Heineke finished just three shots behind Lytle. Heineke bounced back from an opening-round 90 to fire a 77 Tuesday, the Bees' best round of the event. Her 167 was good for 24th place.

Gabrielle Langlois carded rounds of 86 and 84 for a 170. Caitlin McDonagh finished with a 174 (85-89) and Anna Hurning shot a 178 (85-93).

SAU made a six-shot improvement for round one to two, opening with a 338 before closing with a 332. The 670 was good for sixth place.

Tavia Dowell led a second St. Ambrose team with a 188. She had rounds of 91 and 97. Also playing for the second Bee team were Avery Rigg (98-98=196), Ellie Rude (103-98=201), Sam Diekmann (99-104=203) and Olivia Kappes (113-97=210). That team shot a 781 to finish 12th.

SAU will compete in the Mount Mercy Fall Invitational at Hunters Ridge in Marion, Iowa, Saturday and Sunday.