INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Indiana State sits within the team title hunt, while Madison Branum is battling for the individual title as the Sycamores closed out the first day of the Butler Fall Invitational at the Highland Golf and Country Club.
 
The Sycamores (+35) were tied for the top of the leaderboard in the team standings through the first 18 holes after turning in a 291 (+11). The second round saw Indiana State fall back in the rankings following their 304 (+24) to sit fifth overall in the field.
 
Tournament host Butler (+24) leads the way in the team standings, while Austin Peay State (+27), Belmont (+27), and Bellarmine (+34) complete the top-five in the field heading into Tuesday's final day.
 
Branum (+5) sits four strokes back from tournament leader Erica Scutt (Austin Peay State) through the first 36 holes in the tournament. The sophomore has been the Sycamores' top golfer over the last three rounds dating back to last week's F&M Bank APSU Intercollegiate where she was the first Indiana State athlete to go under par in the 2021 fall season.
 
Branum's first-round 73 featured a pair of birdies on the 16th and 17th holes, while her second-round 72 saw the Lexington, S.C. native go under par on the fourth, eighth, and 17th holes to highlight her day.
 
Lauren Green (+8) also sits on the tournament leaderboard as the junior is tied for 13th overall through the first 36 holes. The Merseyside, England native posted a first-round 73 (+3) and added a second-round 75 (+5) with birdies on the 10th and 11th holes on the day to wrap up the opening day.
 
Iyoun Chew (+10) carded her lowest round of the 2021 season with a first-round 71 (+1) to sit among the tournament leaders through 18 holes. She followed up with a second-round 79 (+9) to finish tied for 20th in the field heading into the final day.
 
Kristen Hobbs (+13) posted a two-round score 75-78 to sit tied for 36th overall in the field through the first 36 holes. The Anderson, Ind. native posted her lone birdie of the day on the third hole in the first round.
 
Chelsea Morrow (+13) also sits tied with her teammate for 36th overall in the field following her 74-79 rounds. She birdied the third and 10th holes in the opening round to highlight her day.
 
Molly Lee (+14) and Grace Welty (+26) both competed as the individuals for the Sycamores on the day. Lee's 79-75 put her tied for 44th overall in the field, while Welty's 84-82 put her tied for 75th overall through the first two rounds.

News & Notes

• Indiana State's first-round 291 marked the Sycamores' lowest round since their 292 they recorded in the first round of the WG Fort Wayne Spring Classic in 2018.
• Iyoun Chew's first-round 71 (+1) marked her lowest recorded round in the Sycamore Blue & White.
• Indiana State sits fourth overall in the team standings in Par-4 scoring at 4.29 (+35).
• The Sycamores sit fourth overall in Par-5 scoring at 5.25 (+5).
• Madison Branum is one of seven players to turn in an even-par score on Par-3 holes on the day.

Up Next
The Sycamores are back in action tomorrow morning with the final round set to begin at 9 a.m. at the Highland Golf and Country Club. Indiana State will be teeing off on the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh holes in Tuesday's shotgun start.
 
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