FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- The Sycamores left Terre Haute under mostly sunny skies and were chilled to the bone during a frigid practice round Sunday afternoon. While an early spring snowy surprise came and went at home, the Indiana State women's golf team battled through a two and a half hour delay on Monday then proceeded two put together two of the 10 best rounds in program history in 36 holes which tested the meddle of the team in every way possible.
While snow covered the walkways at Brookwood Golf Club, generally wet and windy conditions were the norm on the green. After waiting out a delay, the Sycamores tallied a round of 292 -- the second-best single round in the history of the program. It is only topped a second round score of 287 which came at the 2016 Missouri Valley Conference Championship. ISU came back with a round of 298 in the afternoon which is tied for the 10th-best round in the history of the program. The two-round score of 590 is the best in the history of the program for a two-round event and a score of 307 or better on Tuesday in the final round will set a new record for best 54-hole tournament score in program history.
ISU got there with a two-under par showing from
Thilda Staubo who recorded a 70 on the first trip around the course and came back with a 71 in the afternoon for a score of 141 and a spot in third place.
Sierra Hargens used rounds of 73 and 77 to tie for ninth place with a score of 150.
Alex Jennings put together the two best rounds of her career with scores of 75 in both the morning and evening for a total of 150 and a tie for ninth place.
Sophie Benetti's scores of 74 and 77 gave her a total of 151 which is 12th best.
Dawn Turner owned rounds of 78 and 75 for a total fo 153 and is tied for 15th place. Playing as an individual,
Robyn Blanchard put together rounds of 81 and 79 for a total of 160 which is tied for 25th place.
The University of Indianapolis leads the event with rounds of 284 and 278 which gives them a tally of 562 and are 28 shots ahead of ISU. The Sycamores are ahead of host Fort Wayne with rounds of 307 and 291 for a total of 598 while Green Bay is fourth with rounds of 303 and 311 for a total of 614. Detroit tallied rounds of 334 and 318 for a total of 652 while Chicago State was not able to finish the event due to an injury.
Staubo is tied for third place in the individual race and is just three shots behind UIndy's Katharina Keilich for first place in the event. Keilich recorded rounds of 70 and 68 for a total of 138. Her opening round of 70 is tied for the sixth-best round ever by a Sycamore. Her 141 through two rounds is tied for the best this year by the Sycamore as
Sierra Hargens had the same scores in winning the Butler Fall Invitational in a three-way, four-person playoff.
The third and final round is set for 9 a.m. (ET) with a shotgun start.
