MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Junior Megan McLean (Lebanon, N.J.) fired a new career-low 4-under, 67, during Monday afternoon's second round of the Memphis Intercollegiate and currently leads the field by two strokes entering the final round on Tuesday morning at the Par-71 Ridgeway Country Club.
The Nittany Lions bounced back from a slow start to begin the day and are currently the only team under par with a two round score of 2-under, 566, five shots clear of Middle Tennessee in second at 3-over, 571. The host Tigers (10-over), Troy (25-over) and Toldeo (26-over) round out the top-5 in the 14-team field.
Penn State followed an 8-over opening round of 292 with a 10-under, 274, in the second round to tie its all-time low round score in a single-tournament set earlier this season during the final round of the Bettie Lou Evans Invitational back in October.
McLean made an early decision, just four holes into her opening round, to leave the driver in the bag and it gave her supreme confidence during her career day on the course. The junior carded 12 Birdies over the two rounds of play and was the only golfer in the 75-player field to finish in red numbers during the opening round of play shooting a 1-under, 70, before her low round score of 4-under.
"I was extremely confident over the ball today especially with my putter and wedges," mentioned McLean. "My driver was acting up a bit early so I decided to hit my 3-wood all day."
The Nittany Lions started slow in the first round finishing the front nine at 9-over par before rallying on the back-nine led by senior Cara Basso's (Dowingtown, Pa.) 3-under score of 33 along with even-par scores from McLean and freshman Sarah Willis (Eaton, Ohio) leading Penn State to the club-house with a 1-under showing over the final nine holes of the first round.
Senior Jackie Rogowicz (Yardley, Pa.) carded a 3-over, 74, during her opening round and Willis rounded out the four team scores with a 5-over, 76.
Penn State opened the second round in third place, but just three strokes off Middle Tennessee's lead of 5-over (289) while the host Tigers sat in second, two shots clear of the Nittany Lions at 6-over (290).
Basso rolled her hot first round finish into her second round carding an Eagle at the Par-5 second and back-to-back Birdies at six and seven to jump ahead of her teammate and into the lead after a 3-under front nine ultimately finishing the round at even-par and 1-over for the tournament, good for a tie for sixth.
Senior Lauren Waller (Canonsburg, Pa.) bounced back from an opening round 7-over, 78, with a 4-under, 67, and currently sits tied for 13th at 3-over for the tournament. Rogowicz came home at 3-under to close out her second round score of 2-under, 69, and currently sits tied with Basso for sixth.
"I just feel the team really found their rhythm today and started trusting themselves," commented Head Coach Denise St. Pierre. "Really great to see Megan lead the way too."
Playing as an individual junior Maddy Herr (New Hope, Pa.) carded rounds of 77 (6-over) and 2-over (73) and is tied for 28th at 8-over.
The Nittany Lions carded 34 Birdies and one Eagle as a team pushing their season total to 411. If interested in pledging to our 'Birdies For The Heart' initiative please fill our THIS FORM or email head coach Denise St. Pierre at dxs10@psu.edu.
Penn State and the rest of the field will conclude the tournament tomorrow morning with an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start.