LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Penn State women's golf team remains in second following the middle round of the Bettie Lou Evans Invitational at the University of Kentucky's Big Blue Course on Saturday afternoon. The Nittany lions shot 5-over (293) and currently trail the host Wildcats by eight strokes entering Sunday morning's final round.
Penn State sits at 4-over (580) following a slower second round of play while Kentucky is the only team in red figures at 4-under (572) in the 13-team field. The Nittany Lions sit eight shots clear of Eastern Kentucky (12-over) in third place while Western Kentucky (14-over) and Middle Tennessee (16-over) round out the top five.
"The wind really picked up in the afternoon and played with us a bit," mentioned head coach Denise St. Pierre. "We lost a few strokes coming in, but overall, given the conditions I feel the team held it together fairly well."
Freshman Mathilde Delavallade (Royan, France) is just one shot off the lead in a three-way tie for second at 3-under (141) through two rounds after carding and even par round of 72. The rookie was bogey-free on her round until giving one back on her final hole. Tulane's Carlota Palacios holds the one stroke lead at 4-under (140) following a 1-under second round on Saturday.
Sophomore Sarah Willis (Eaton, Ohio) maintained her solid play this week also carding an even par round of 72 with a pair of birdies and bogeys and sits at 2-under (142) just two shots off the pace in fifth place entering Sunday's final round.
Senior Megan McLean (Lebanon, N.J.) is tied for 18th after firing 4-over (76). The senior went out in 2-under (34) with a bogey free opening nine before giving back six shots on her way in. Senior Maddy Herr (New Hope, Pa.) and junior Olivia Zambruno (Mt. Pleasant, Pa.) rounded out the team scores at 2-over and 3-over and currently sit tied for 36th and 29th, respectively.
Playing as an individual, senior Ashni Dhruva (Katy, Texas) finished at 7-over (79) and is 14-over on the week. Penn State had just 10 birdies as a team on Saturday giving them 22 for the week. Zambruno led the way with three while Willis and McLean each had a pair.
The Nittany Lions return to the course for the final round of competition tomorrow morning with a 9 a.m. shotgun start. Penn State will be paired with Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky beginning on the first four holes.
FULL ROUND 2 RESULTS
