NEWTON, Kan. -- Traveling to the home of former Missouri Valley Conference member Wichita State, the Sycamores trail only the Shockers after the first two rounds of the MVC Preview. The 54-hole event is being held at the Sand Creek Station Golf Course, which is a par-72, 6,103-yard layout.
Among the current membership of the league, which will be competing for a berth into the NCAA Regionals on this very course in the spring the Sycamores own the best two round score. The Shockers, as host, are playing in this week's preview and lead the field with rounds of 304 and 294 for a total of 598. Indiana State is second after two rounds with marks of 306 and 301 for a total of 607 and a two-shot lead over Northern Iowa for third. UNI posted rounds of 313 and 296 for a total of 609 which just edges Southern Illinois's total of 610 for fourth. Bradley and defending league champion Missouri State each posted total of 615 which puts them into a tie for 5th place while Illinois State and Loyola are tied for 7th with scores of 624. Drake's 635 is 9th while Valpo is 10th at 649 and Evansville rounds out the field in 11th with a total of 673.
Robyn Blanchard and
Sophie Benetti are tied for fifth place in the event with two rounds scores of 148 which is five shots behind the individual leader Taryn Torgerson of Wichita State who had rounds of 73 and 70 for a total of 143. Blanchard and Benetti are just two shots behind Southern Illinois' Hanna Netisingha who had rounds of 71 and 75 for a total of 146.
Blanchard carded rounds of 74 and 74 for her 148 and tie of fifth place. Benetti posted a 76 in the morning and came back with an even-par 72 in the afternoon for a total of 148 and a tie for fifth as well. Sophomore
Sierra Hargens, coming off her first collegiate tournament victory two weeks ago at Butler, carded rounds of 77 and 78 for a total of 155 and is tied for 20th place.
Thilda Staubo rebounded from a morning round of 79 to post a 77 in the afternoon for a total of 156 and a tie for 23rd place. Rounding out the Sycamores' lineup was
Abigail Irwin who had rounds of 79 and 83 for a total of 162 and a tie for 44th place.
Playing as an individual was Wichita native
Alex Jennings who made a splash in the return to her hometown by recording her first collegiate eagle from 178 yards away on the par-four eighth hole during round one. Jennings would record rounds of 78 and 80 for a total of 158 and enters the third round in a tie for 31st place.
Dawn Turner also made the trip as an individual and her scores of 79 and 83 give her a two round score of 162 and a tie for 44th place.
The third and final round of the MVC Preview begins at 9:30 a.m. (ET) with a shotgun start. Live stats will be available throughout the day on GoSycamores.com and GolfStat.com.
