ORLANDO, Fla. – Penn State struggled for consistency during the second round of the UCF Challenge on Monday morning and after shooting a 4-over, 292, the Nittany Lions find themselves 12th in the 16-team field following the second round at the Eagle Creek Golf Club.
Team scores across the board were higher on average in the second round, however, Vanderbilt used an 11-under (277) score to leap four spots and into first place with a 16-under score. Miami remains just one stroke back at 15-under following a second round score of 7-under (281). Kennesaw State (9-under) and Michigan State (8-under) sit in third and fourth, respectively, while Kent State and Purdue are tied for fifth at 7-under. East Carolina made the biggest move of the day jumping eight spots after securing the second lowest second round total with a 9-under, 279.
The Nittany Lions were led by junior Megan McLean (Lebanon, N.J.) who shot her second lowest score this season carding a 1-under round of 71 with four birdies on the day. McLean is currently tied for 22nd for the tournament with a total score of 1-under (143).
Senior classmates Jackie Rogowicz (Yardley, Pa.) and Lauren Waller (Canonsburg, Pa.) each turned in rounds of even-par, 72, while Senior Cara Basso (Downingtown, Pa.) and freshman Sarah Willis (Eaton, Ohio) rounded out the team scores at 5-over and 6-over, respectively.
Rogowicz drops just outside the top-10 as she now sits in a tie for 12th at 3-under (141) six shots back of Miami's Anna Backman for the tournament lead.
Playing as an individuals, junior Maddy Herr (New Hope, Pa.) and senior Kamerine Taylor (Dublin, Ohio) each shot rounds of 3-over, 75.
As a team Penn State registered 17 birdies and have 33 over the first two days of competition.
The Nittany Lions tee off in the final round on Tuesday morning with an 8:45 a.m. shotgun start.