LEXINGTON, Ky. – Senior Cara Basso (Downingtown, Pa.) fired her lowest round of the year carding a 4-under 68 to help Penn State climb into the second position following the second round of the Bettie Lou Evans Invitational from the Big Blue Course at the University Club of Kentucky.
Penn State registered its second lowest team score in a round this season after a 2-under round of 286 on Saturday morning. The Nittany Lions lowest round-to-date came during the final round of the Nittany Lion Invitational where they scored a 9-under 279.
Kentucky continues to lead the tournament as the Wildcats also shot a 2-under round of 286. Penn State and Kentucky were the only teams in red figures for the round. The Nittany Lions enter Sunday's final round at 6-over, 16 shots back of Kentucky at 10-under. Middle Tennessee (7-over), Notre Dame (8-over) and Toldeo (14-over) round out the top five.
Basso sandwiched an eagle on the seventh between a pair of bogey's to go out in 35 (1-under) before rattling off three birdies on the back-nine without any bogeys for a 33 (3-under). The senior currently sits tied for third at 4-under for the tournament just three shots back of Leonie Bettel of Kentucky who leads the tournament at 7-under.
"I hit my driver and long irons great today, which allowed me to take advantage of every par five on the course," commented Basso. "I gave myself a lot of good looks at birdie and my putting speed has been good all week."
Senior Jackie Rogowicz (Yardley, Pa.) also registered her best 18-hole score of the season with a 3-under 69. The senior bounced back from an opening bogey at the first hole to collect five birdies on the round with only one additional bogey. Rogowicz is now even-par for the tournament and in a tie for eighth place.
Freshman Sarah Willis (Eaton, Ohio) also turned in a solid round of 73 (1-over) which included a 1-under 35 on her opening nine holes of the day. Senior Lauren Waller (Canonsburg, Pa.) rounded out the team scores in the second round with a 4-over 76.
Junior Megan McLean (Lebanon, N.J.) had a string of three-straight birdies on holes three through six, but struggled the rest of the way finishing the round 7-over after carding a 79.
"I knew as a team we needed a good push today to get us into the final pairing and I knew I need to contribute to that push to help get us there," concluded Basso.
Penn State will be in the final pairing tomorrow along with Kentucky and Middle Tennesse when play gets under way at 9:00 a.m. The Nittany Lions will be starting on holes 1-4.