By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
FORSYTH, Ga. – The Tennessee Tech women's golf team knocked out the first two rounds of its final event of the fall, making two passes around River Forest Country Club in Forsyth, Ga. at the Mercer Invitational on Monday.
The Golden Eagles produced rounds of 306 and 305 on day one of action, totaling 611 to rank seventh in the 12-team field. Jacksonville held the lead following a 575 through two rounds, edging Mercer by three shots. The Dolphins' Susana Olivares and Georgia State's TK Kongthong tied for the individual lead, each notching scores of 139.
For the purple and gold, it was Chloe Griffith leading the way with rounds of 1-under 71 and 76 for a 147. The sophomore tied for 15th in the field of 70 golfers, piling up four birdies in round one and another three in her second trip around the links.
Next for the Tech squad on the leaderboard, rookie Kailey Lane tied for 20th overall with a two-round total of 152. The freshman fired a birdie and 13 pars for a first-round 77 and followed it up with three birdies and a 75.
Three shots behind her teammate, sophomore Lexus Julian opened the day with an 83 before stepping on the gas for an even-par 72. Tying for 37th with a total of 155, the Cookeville native secured five birdies in her second round, including four straight from the 10th hole to the 13th.
A pair of Golden Eagles tied for 40th in the field, with Sydney Branson and Lydia Baker each tallying scores of 157. A junior, Branson locked down rounds of 75 with two birdies and 82 with one birdie. Competing as an individual, Baker turned in two birdies with a 78 before ending the day with a birdie and a 79.
Also competing as an individual, senior Reagan Stuke completed the day with a 164 behind rounds of 89 and 75. The veteran carded four total birdies, including three in the second round alone. Junior Kaydi Rhodes was forced to withdraw from the competition after six holes of action due to injury.
The third and final round of the Mercer Invitational will kick off for the Golden Eagles with a shotgun start beginning at 6:45 a.m. CT.
| Top 5 Teams: | ||||||
| 1. | Jacksonville | 287-288=575 | -1 | |||
| 2. | Mercer | 287-291=578 | +2 | |||
| T-3. | Samford | 296-293=589 | +13 | |||
| T-3. | Georgia State | 300-289=589 | +13 | |||
| 5. | UNC Asheville | 305-303=608 | +32 | |||
| 7. | Tennessee Tech | 306-305=611 | +35 | |||
| Leaderboard (70 Golfers) | ||||||
| T-1. | Susana Olivares (Jacksonville) | 69-70=139 | -5 | |||
| T-1. | TK Kongthong (Georgia State) | 69-70=139 | -5 | |||
| T-15. | Chloe Griffith | 71-76=147 | +3 | |||
| T-20. | Kailey Lane | 77-75=152 | +8 | |||
| T-37. | Lexus Julian | 83-72=155 | +11 | |||
| T-40. | Sydney Branson | 75-82=157 | +13 | |||
| T-40. | Lydia Baker (I) | 78-79=157 | +13 | |||
| T-59. | Reagan Stuke (I) | 89-75=164 | +20 | |||
| Kaydi Rhodes | WD | |||||
File photo by Michael Wade
