Murray State University Athletics
True Grit - MSU Holds Lead At OVC Women's Golf Championship
4/24/2009 1:30:00 PM | Women's Golf
The Murray State Racers saw their lead cut in round two of the Ohio Valley Conference Women's Championship, but still carry a four-shot lead into the final 18 holes Saturday at the Crooked Creek GC in London, Ky.
After taking a six-shot lead in round one with a 312, the Racers battled windy conditions on the par-72 6,020-yard track and came home in round two with a 319 good for a total of 631.
They'll be battling four-time defending champion
Third place Tennessee Tech will join MSU and JSU in the final pairings Saturday after rounds of 318-324=642.
“Today was very tough with the wind,” MSU Head Coach Velvet Milkman said. “We battled that but played some strong golf down the stretch to get into the clubhouse. We've given ourselves a chance to win on Saturday and that's what we wanted to do. It'll be fun competing for the OVC Championship, that's what we all strive for when the season starts.”
In round two, the Racers were led by Bethany Yates and Megan McKinney who both carded 79. Yates' scores of 78=79=157 gave her a spot in fifth place in the field of 40 competitors, while
Eastern Kentucky had fourth place after scores of 322-322=644, while Eastern Illinois (324-329=653) and
All of MSU's players were ranked in the top-10.
The Racers will be looking for their first OVC title since winning the last of three straight in 2004.
The OVC Champion gets the league's automatic bid to the NCAA's.
Tennessee Tech's Megan Bradford was the leader in the medalist race after scores of 79-73=152, while Carrie Riordan of Eastern Illinois was in second after rounds of 74-79=153.
The final round begins at 8 a.m. Saturday with each player starting at the first hole.
