ORLANDO, Fla. - The Middle Tennessee women's golf team improved by nine shots in the second round of the Sun Belt Conference Women's Golf Championships and moved up a spot into sixth place entering Wednesday's final round at the Walt Disney World's Eagle Pines Course.
· Photos: Round Two Gallery
The Blue Raiders are one shot behind UALR and South Alabama for fourth place and three shots out of third. Three-time defending champion Denver owns a 17-shot lead over second-place Florida International and has distanced itself from the pack.
Middle Tennessee's 306 was the third-best round of the day and enabled the Blue Raiders to put themselves in position for a solid finish.
"Our goal was to make a move and improve our game from the first round to the second, and we were able to do that," Middle Tennessee golf coach Rachael Short said. "The 306 score on this course was a good score for us today. Hopefully we can do that again tomorrow and improve our standing in the tournament. I'm pleased with how we approached the course and took care of ourselves today."
Defending SBC individual champion Taryn Durham is sixth overall and eight shots off the lead. Durham fired a 3-over 75 Tuesday and stands at 158 for the tournament.
"I improved by two shots today and I need to make another improvement Wednesday," Durham said. "This is a tough course but the approach was much better today and so were the conditions. We just need to pull together and have another solid round as a team and see what happens."
Senior Maggie McGill turned in Middle Tennessee's best round Tuesday with a 1-over 73 and is tied for ninth at 9-over 153. McGill was solid from start to finish and is eying a top 10 finish to close out her career.
Mallory Bishop has been consistent and she is tied for 18th after posting a 155 through the first two days. Clara Leathers is tied for 34th with a 161, and Leigh Wilkins is tied for 40th with a 165.
Sun Belt Conference Golf Championships
First Round Scores
Walt Disney World's Eagle Pines Golf Course
Orlando, Fla.
1 Denver, Univ. of 298 298 596 +20
2 Fla. International 308 305 613 +37
3 Florida Atlantic U. 314 304 618 +42
4 Arkansas-Little Rock 312 308 620 +44
South Alabama, U. of 311 309 620 +44
6 Middle Tennessee 315 306 621 +45
7 North Texas, U. of 311 318 629 +53
8 Louisiana - Monroe 319 319 638 +62
9 Arkansas State Univ. 320 321 641 +65
10 Troy University 335 317 652 +76
11 Western Kentucky U. 334 320 654 +78
MT Team Scores
6 Middle Tennessee 315 306 621
T6 Taryn Durham 77-75 152
T9 Maggie McGill 80-73 153
T18 Mallory Bishop 78-77 155
34 Clara Leathers 80-81 161
T 40 Leigh Wilkins 81-84 165
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