Freshman Iliska Verwey moved into a tie for sixth with a second-round score of 74 (+2) as the 32nd-ranked Georgia State University women's golf team retained seventh place with a two-round team score of 627 (+51) at the Pinehurst Challenge in Pinehurst, N.C. on Monday.
The Panthers carded a second-round team score of 309 (+21) and now are tied with host College of Charleston in seventh. State sits 16 strokes off the lead held by 56th-ranked East Tennessee State and the team rests only 12 strokes behind the top-ranked team in the field, East Carolina (19th), on the par-72, 5,968-yard layout of Pinehurst #8 at Pinehurst Resort. Through the second round, the Panthers continue to lead fellow Colonial Athletic Association foe James Madison by 12 strokes (639, +63).
“We had a better round today, but we're still capable of shooting lower,” said Georgia State head coach Cathy Mant. “We kept ourselves in seventh place and we're in a position to move up a few spots tomorrow. We're just going to go out and try to improve again in the third round.”
Individually, Verwey's 74 paced the Panthers in the second round as the 66th-ranked player in the nation climbed from a tie for 14th into a tie for sixth with a two-round score of 151 (+7). The native of South Africa is only three strokes behind the lead shared by Charleston's Steffi Kirchmayr and East Tennessee's Laura Jansone at 148 (+4).
“Iliska [Verwey] has tremendous talent and she has showed it throughout the season,” added Mant. “Once again, she is in a position to make a push for the individual title. But, she'll have to go lower in her third round to have a chance.”
In addition to Verwey's performance, two additional Panthers shot in the 70s on day two; redshirt junior Anna Scott shot a second-round 76 (+4) to move into a tie for 28th along with sophomore Nicole Loesch who had a second-round 79 (+7). Rounding out State's five member squad was redshirt freshman Sandra Maier with a second round 80 (+8) and sophomore Cathrine Madsen who carded an 82 (+10) in the second round. Madsen is tied for third best in par three scoring at the event at even par, while Scott has the fourth most pars with 23.
While scores in the first round were greatly affected by cold, windy conditions, the second round at Pinehurst #8 featured more mild weather, allowing for lower numbers among the field of 21 teams and 116 student athletes.
The third and final round of the 54-hole Pinehurst Challenge will tee off at 9 a.m. with a shotgun start featuring foursomes. Georgia State will be split among groups teeing from the seventh through ninth holes.
Check GeorgiaStateSports.com for updates following the completion of the Pinehurst Challenge on Tuesday.
Georgia State Individual Scores:
T6th ? Iliska Verwey ? 77-74 ? 151, +7
T28th ? Anna Scott ? 81-76 ? 157, +13
T28th ? Nicole Loesch ? 78-79 ? 157, +13
T73rd ? Cathrine Madsen ? 82-82 ? 164, +20
T77th ? Sandra Maier ? 85-80 ? 165, +21
Team Scores:
1 - East Tennessee State - 307-304 - 611
2 - East Carolina Univ. - 313-302 - 615
3 - N. Car.- Greensboro - 313-307 - 620
Tenn.-Chattanooga - 311-309 - 620
5 - Augusta State U. - 323-301 - 624
Oregon State U. - 321-303 - 624
7 - Charleston, Coll. of - 317-310 - 627
Georgia State Univ. - 318-309 - 627
9 - South Florida - 319-311 - 630
10 - Boise State Univ. - 314-318 - 632
11 - Coastal Carolina U. - 326-308 - 634
12 - Western Carolina U. - 327-309 - 636
13 - Maryland, U. of - 323-315 - 638
14 - Texas State Univ. - 322-317 - 639
James Madison Univ. - 327-312 - 639
16 - Stetson University - 327-316 - 643
17 - Jacksonville St. - 331-315 - 646
Penn State Univ. - 324-322 - 646
19 - Memphis, Univ. of - 330-329 - 659
20 - Bucknell University - 328-335 - 663
Charleston Southern - 338-325 - 663
