Muscle Shoals, Ala. – The Georgia State women's golf team, playing in its first Sun Belt Conference Championship, concluded the second day of play Tuesday in seventh place on the Robert Trent Jones Fighting Joe Course. The Panthers shot a second round 23-over 311, bringing their two-day total to 614 with 18 holes to play.
Leading the charge for the Panthers was junior Laura Sanchez with her 1-over 73 in the second round. Sanchez birdied two holes on the front nine, which helped put her in a tie for 10th place with four other players entering Wednesday's final round.
“I'm very disappointed in how we played today,” coach Cathy Mant commented. “They just didn't play well today. They all feel pretty bad about it.
“Laura Sanchez was the lone highlight for the day with her 73. She hit 16 greens, which was great to see. Melissa Siviter had really tough start, but finished well. She didn't give up.
“Our goal is to go out tomorrow and post the best round we've posted all season and look forward to next year.”
Tied for 21st place is junior Solveig Helgsen, who shot a 7-over 79 on the second day and stands at 9-over par through two rounds.
Freshman Julie Lied also shot a 7-over 79 Tuesday, and is now 11-over for the championship, tied for 25th place in the 55-player field.
Junior Melissa Siviter overcame a rough start on the first three holes to shoot an 8-over 80. Siviter was just one over on the back nine, including a birdie on the par three 13th hole. Siviter is tied for 34th place after the second day.
Rounding out the Panthers line-up was junior Maria Palacios, who shot an 83 on Tuesday and is tied for 40th place at 15-over.
Florida International continues to lead the field shooting 1-under 287 on Tuesday. The Panthers have a six-stroke lead over Middle Tennessee State and are just 9-over for the championship. The Blue Raiders are in second at 15-over, followed by Troy in third at 22-over. South Alabama is fourth with one round to play at 26-over, followed by Arkansas-Little Rock in fifth at 33-over.
Florida International's Meghan MacLaren sits atop the leaderboard at 5-under for the tournament following a second round 68. Three strokes back is Middle Tennessee State's Olivia Love at 2-under, followed by Arkansas-Little Rock's Sofia Berglund at even par. A group of four are tied for fourth at 3-over, including Troy's Sara Fennvik, FIU's Sophie Godley, South Alabama's Kristen Golightly and Louisiana Monroe's Alison Knowles.
Georgia State will go off the tenth tee for Wednesday's final round at 9:10 a.m. ET/8:10 a.m. CT with North Texas and Arkansas State.
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