HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE, Ark. – The University of South Alabama women's golf team shot a combined 302 during the second round of the 2018 Little Rock Golf Classic at the Diamante Country Club. The Jaguars are tied for third place and are two strokes off the lead entering Tuesday's final round.
Siti Shaari ended the day tied for eighth overall after posting a team-best 73 (+1) Monday. Julie Hovland, Caroline Berge and MacKenzie Peyton also rank among the top 20 in a 95-person field.
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Event (Host): 2018 Little Rock Golf Classic
Dates: Oct. 28-30 (Sunday-Tuesday)
Format: 54 holes (18/18/18)
Start Time: 8:30 a.m. shotgun start Tuesday
Course: Diamante Country Club (par 72, 6,076 yds)
Live Results
TEAM SCORES
T1) Western Kentucky 308-289—597 (+21); T1) Missouri State 303-294—597 (+21); T3) South Alabama 297-302—599 (+23); T3) Lamar 299-300—599 (+23); 5) UTEP 297-304—601 (+25); 6) Central Arkansas 303-303—606 (+30); 7) Houston Baptist 306-308—614 (+38); 8) Utah Valley 305-311—616 (+40); T9) UMKC 311-306—617 (+41); T9) ULM 304-313—617 (+41); 11) Northern Iowa 311-308—619 (+43); 12) UT Arlington 307-314—621 (+45); T13) Arkansas State 318-308—626 (+50); T13) Little Rock 315-311—626 (+50); 15) Stephen F. Austin 326-314—640 (+64); 16) McNeese 320-324—644 (+68)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
1) Rachel Johnson, Missouri State, 71-67—138 (-6); 2) Megan Clarke, Western Kentucky, 72-67—139 (-5); 3) Elodie Chaplet, Lamar, 72-71—143 (-1); 4) Lily Downs, UTEP, 70-74—144 (E); T5) Laura Pasalodos Barcelo, Lamar, 71-74—145 (+1); T5) Kaylee Shimizu, Utah Valley, 74-71—145 (+1); 7) Shani White, ULM, 73-74—147 (+3); T8) Abby Cavaiani, Missouri State, 76-72—148 (+4); T8) Siti Shaari, South Alabama, 75-73—148 (+4); T8) **Pia Ohlenbusch, Jacksonville State, 72-76—148 (+4)
**Competing as an individual
SOUTH ALABAMA SCORES
T8) Siti Shaari, 75-73—148 (+4); T11) Julie Hovland, 72-77—149 (+5); T17) MacKenzie Peyton, 76-75—151 (+7); T17) Caroline Berge, 74-77—151 (+7); T57) **Nele Mattner, 81-77—158 (+14); T61) Lexi Worrell, 80-79—159 (+15)
**Competing as an individual
TEE SHOTS
-Shaari recorded three birdies on the first five holes today, including two in a row on holes 4 and 5. Berge and Peyton also carded birdies on hole 4.
-Berge has averaged 2.88 (-1) on par-3s and Shaari is even on par-4s. Both sophomores are among the top five in the respective categories.
-Peyton leads the Jaguars in par-5 scoring (5.13, +1). Berge, Hovland, Shaari, and freshman Nele Mattner are tied with 5.25 (+2) averages on par-5 holes.
-Mattner shot a 5-over-par 77 in today's round and moved up 15 spots in the individual standings to tie for 57th. The freshman holds a 3.25 (+2) par-3 scoring average and carded her first two birdies of the tournament today on holes 11 and 12.
-South Alabama leads the 16-team field in par-4 scoring (4.18, +8) and birdies (23). They are sixth on par-3s (3.23, +9) and have played 101 holes at even-par through two rounds.
THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Matt Luther
On today's round… "It was a difficult day. The wind picked up a little bit and we kind of hung in there. I don't think we did anything wrong, necessarily. We just had some shots not go our way, but we're still in good shape."
On Shaari's performance… "She got off to a good start. It was good to get under-par early and finish with a pretty good round. It's good to see her make some birdies when she's been working on stuff. She's trying to get better and her hard work is paying off."
On entering the final round two shots back from the lead… "It's a super-tight leaderboard. We could easily win tomorrow or we could easily finish eighth, so it's just about a couple of things going your way. We talked about not worrying about that stuff and doing the same things we always do: attitude, process and doing your job."
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/WeAreSouth_JAGS. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
Join the Chip In Club, the women's golf specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund. All donations to the Chip In Club go directly to support the South Alabama women's golf program. For more information on how you can join visit: jaguarathleticfund.com/chipinclub.
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