GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Penn State women's golf team shaved six strokes off their score from the first to the second round of competition and currently sit fifth in the 12-team field at 30-over, 590, following the opening day of the 47th annual Lady Gator Invitational at the Mark Bostick Golf Course.
The Nittany Lions began the day carding an 18-over, 298, in the opening round before climbing one spot following their 12-over, 292, score during round two. The host and ninth-ranked Gators are currently in first at 10-over, 570. No. 26 Virginia Tech (14-over), No. 44 Michigan (23-over) and No. 43 UCF (24-over) round out the top-five ahead of Penn State.
Freshman Mathilde Delavallade (Royan, France) sparked the round with her first-ever hole-in-one on the par-3, 166-yard 15th hole, her eighth hole of the second round. It was the first hole-in-one by a Nittany Lion since Ariana Coyle Diez registered one of her own at the Cougar Classic back on September 13, 2015.
The rookie added four birdies along with four bogeys carding a 2-under, 68, following her 3-over, 73, in the opening round. Delavallade currently sits tied for second place at 1-over, 141, for the championship just two shots back of UCF's Tunrada Piddon.
"My short game and putting were very good today," commented Delavallade. "I managed myself when I got into trouble and was able to recover well."
Senior Megan McLean (Lebanon, N.J.) carded back-to-back rounds of 4-over, 74, and currently sits tied for 19th with freshman Sarah Willis (Eaton, Ohio) at 8-over, 148, for the tournament. Willis shot 73 and 75 on the day at the par-70, 6,002-yard Bostick Golf Course.
Senior Maddy Herr (New Hope, Pa.) and freshman Isha Dhruva (Katy, Texas) rounded out the team scores with identical rounds of 5-over during the second round and 8-over in the first round to sit tied for 40th position at 13-over, 153.
"The greens were fast today and the course itself is challenging," said head coach Denise St. Pierre. "I'm very excited with the way we came back in the second round and am very proud of the way Mathilde played throughout the day."
Playing as an individual, junior Olivia Zambruno (Mt. Pleasant, Pa.) carded rounds of 78 and 81 and sits at 19-over heading into tomorrow's final round.
The Nittany Lions had 23 total birdies on the day giving them 254 for the year. Delavallade led the way with her five total birdies and one eagle over the course of the two rounds. Willis also had five birdies throughout the day.
Penn State returns to the course for the final round of the Gator Invitational tomorrow morning with a 9 a.m. shotgun start.
FULL RESULTS ROUNDS 1 & 2
