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[/FONT][FONT=Arial][I]Betsie Johnson. Image credit: UK Athletics[/I]
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[FONT=Arial]Sparked by a nine-stroke improvement on day two, the University of Kentucky women’s golf team jumped three spots, finishing day two of the Central Regional of the NCAA Championship in a tie for 18th. The Wildcats shot a 25-over-par 313 on the second day of competition in Columbus, Ohio to enter the final round at 59-over-par 635.
Southern Cal remains atop the leaderboard, increasing their lead by 11 strokes with a 2-over-par 290 on day two. The Trojans enter the final round of the Central Regional with a 12-stroke lead, sitting at 12-over-par 588. With a 4-over-par 292, Vanderbilt jumped six spots into second at 24-over-par 600. Virginia jumped five spots, sitting in third at 28-over-par 604 following an 8-over-par 296 on Friday while Purdue and Oregon enter the final round in a tie for fourth at 32-over-par 608.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Lisa McCloskey of Southern Cal jumped seven spots to claim the No. 1 individual spot after shooting a 4-under-par 68 on Friday. McCloskey’s five birdies leave her at 3-under-par 141 on the tournament. Vanderbilt’s Marina Alex dropped one spot to sit in a three-way tie for second with teammate Lauren Stratton and Maria Salinas of Florida State at 1-under-par 143.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Junior [URL=”http://www.ukathletics.com/sports/w-golf/mtt/johnson_betsie00.html”]Betsie Johnson[/URL] improved on her first round score by four strokes, shooting a 6-over-par 78. Johnson’s three birdies were a tie for a team high, entering the final round in a tie for 73rd at 16-over-par 160. Senior [URL=”http://www.ukathletics.com/sports/w-golf/mtt/rose_ashlee00.html”]Ashlee Rose[/URL] also showed improvement, sinking three birdies to finish the day at 6-over-par 78. Rose moved up 15 spots into a tie for 92nd. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Junior [URL=”http://www.ukathletics.com/sports/w-golf/mtt/lott_heather00.html”]Heather Lott[/URL] finished her second round of play with a 6-over-par 78, entering the final round of play in a tie for 56th at 13-over-par 157. Junior [URL=”http://www.ukathletics.com/sports/w-golf/mtt/albrecht_ashleigh00.html”]Ashleigh Albrecht[/URL] improved seven strokes from day one, sinking one birdie to finish the day at 7-over-par 79. Albrecht moved into a tie for 106th at 21-over-par 165. Sophomore [URL=”http://www.ukathletics.com/sports/w-golf/mtt/breed_liz00.html”]Liz Breed[/URL] shot an 11-over-par 83 on Friday, entering the final round of play in a tie for 73rd at 16-over-par 160.
The final round of the Central Regional will begin Saturday morning with Kentucky teeing off from the first tee box at 1:25 p.m. in 11 minute intervals. Albrecht will lead off for the Wildcats, followed by Rose, Breed, Johnson and Lott at 2:09 p.m. All times are Eastern.[/FONT]
