Led by a season-best round from freshman Lauren Court, the Georgia State women's golf team improved to 15th place after Saturday's second round at the SunTrust Gator Women's Invitational, played at the par-70 Mark Bostic Golf Course in Gainesville, Fla.
The Panthers shot 305 (+25) as a team and are nine strokes behind 14th place Chattanooga entering Sunday's final round.
Court, a freshman from Lawrenceville, Ga. (Collins Hill HS) fired a two-over par 72 with one birdie and just three bogeys. She stands in a tie for 32nd place at +9 in a strong field that includes six Top 20 and 12 Top 50 teams.
"We're so excited with the way Lauren Court played today," said GSU head coach Cathy Mant. "It was easily her best ball-striking of the year. With the way she hit it today, she could have shot 67 with a few more putts.
"Lauren has been working really hard, and it feels great to see that pay off on the course," Mant added.
Sophomore Laura Sanchez played her first 14 holes at three-over before faltering to finish with an eight-over 78. She stands at +13 for the tournament.
"Laura played well until her last couple of holes," said Mant.
Charlotte Lorentzen, GSU's top player, shot her second straight 75 to stand at 10-over and tied for 36th place.
"Charlotte shot the same score but didn't play nearly as well as she did yesterday," said Mant. "She hit some shots that are just not typical for her. But she had a good session on the driving range after the round, and I think she'll play much better tomorrow."
The tournament concludes with Sunday's final round.
SUNTRUST GATOR WOMEN'S INVITATIONAL, Round 2
Mark Bostic Golf Course, Gainesville, Fla.
TEAM SCORES:
T1, Alabama, +17, 284-293=577
T1, Florida, +17, 294-283=577
3, Georgia, +22, 286-296=582
4, Florida State, +23, 290-293=583
5, South Florida, +28, 294-294=588
6, Kentucky, +30, 291-299=590
7, Auburn, +33, 293-300=593
T8, Duke, +35, 295-300=595
T8, Baylor, +35, 302-293=595
10, Arkansas, +36, 297-299=596
11, Mississippi, +38, 305-293=598
12, UCF, +41, 303-298=601
13, Wisconsin, +44, 303-301=604
14, Chattanooga, +53, 302-311=613
15, Georgia State, +54, 309-305=614
16, Kent State, +55, 309-306=615
17, Mississippi State, +59, 304-315=619
GSU INDIVIDUALS
T-35--Lauren Court, 77-72=149 (+9)
T-38--Charlotte Lorentzen, 75-75=150 (+10)
T-50--Laura Sanchez, 75-78=153 (+1350
88--Charlotte Guilleux, 82-80=162 (+22)
91-Solveig Helgesen, 87-82=169 (+29)
