DADE CITY, Fla. – With six players among the top 20 with just a few holes remaining in the second round and sophomore Kennedy McGaha just one stroke off the pace in second place, the Anderson women's golf team leads the Saint Leo Invitational, Monday at the 6,112 yard, par-72 Lake Jovita Golf and Country Club.
"Really proud of everyone today," said Anderson Head Women's Coach Denton Moore. "This golf course is not as easy as our girls and Lynn are making it look. Just a great effort from everyone in the second round. We are playing solid golf right now. We have eight outstanding players and that showed today. I love having all eight girls here playing and getting tournament experience. It will make us better come postseason time."
With just a handful of players completing the second round before play was halted due to darkness, nationally seventh-ranked Anderson overcame a four-shot deficit following the first round and leads No. 3 Lynn heading into Tuesday's final day.
Battling among a 12-team field that includes seven squads that were ranked in last Friday's Mizuno Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) Top-25 Poll, Barry is in third place, with 12th-ranked Tampa in fourth place. No. 24 Florida Southern is fifth, while 11th-ranked Limestone and Eckerd are sixth and seventh, respectively. The host Lions are eighth, with Palm Beach Atlantic, No. 14 Grand Valley State, Embry-Riddle and Coastal Georgia rounding out the 12-team field.
With three holes remaining in the second round for both players, Tampa's Ana Maria Jimenez Rios leads McGaha by just one stroke after the Honea Path native matched her season-best with a first-round 69.
"I really wish we could have finished the second round today, but that is what it is," added Moore. "We just need to come out tomorrow and keep the same game plan going. The girls were awesome with it today. We actually didn't putt well as a whole this morning, but this afternoon they were filling the cup up! We need to stay level-headed tomorrow, stick to the game plan, and execute to the best of our ability. If we do that, I'll be happy with whatever the result is from there. Proud of this group this week. Time to go finish!"
The teams are slated to finish the second round starting at 9 a.m., Tuesday, with a shotgun start, then play the third and final round.
Notables
• The Trojans' first-round 290 matched the 10th-best score in program history.
• Kennedy McGaha's season-best opening-round 69 matched the seventh-lowest score in program history.
• AU is seeking its second straight tournament championship
