CHESTERTON, Ind. – After being forced to play each of the first two rounds of the 2019 MVC Women's Golf Championship after Sunday's opener was frozen out, the Sycamores battled back into the hunt by posting the low second round of the day while Thilda Staubo is tied for the individual lead heading into Tuesday's final round. The event will be held over the par-72, 6,084-yard layout of the Sand Creek Country Club. In pre-tournament voting by the league head coaches, the Sycamores were picked to finish sixth.
 
And that is where they currently stand after the first two rounds – an improvement of their ninth place finish after the opening 18. ISU is in a tight group near the top of the team leader board just 11 shots behind Drake. The Sycamores posted a 314 in the morning but came back with the best round of the day – a 295 in the evening for a total of 609. The Sycamores second round score of 295 is tied for the third-best single round in program history.
 
"Once we overcame the initial shock of some bad holes we started crawling our way back in it," head coach Greg Towne said. "We posted the low second round team score and it could have been even better. I am proud of how the ladies fought for 36 holes to give us a chance to win tomorrow."
 
Rounds of 301 and 297 give Drake the advantage at 598 while Southern Illinois is second with rounds of 300 and 299 for a total of 599. Missouri State is third at 607 while Bradley and Loyola are tied for fourth place at 608. Then the Sycamores are a close sixth at 609 and they lead Northern Iowa (612), Illinois State (626), Evansville (627) and host Valparaiso (643).
 
The team title is not the only thing up for the grabs for the Sycamores as senior Thilda Staubo posted two rounds of 73 which gives her a total of 146 and she tied for the individual lead heading into the final 18 holes. Sierra Hargens followed up her round of 77 in the morning with a 73 in the afternoon which gives her a total of 150 and she stands alone in 10^th place.
 
Sophie Benetti shaved eight strokes off her opening round of 82 to post a 74 in the afternoon for a total of 156 and a tie for 31^st place. Kayla Ryan's 82 in the morning was followed by a second round of 75 and her total of 157 is tied for 33^rd place. Abigail Irwin tallied an 84 in the opening round then came back with a 76 in the evening for a total of 160 which is tied for 40^th place.
 
The third and final round will begin with tee times at 9:30 am (ET).