HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Arkansas Tech built off its first-round lead at the 2018 Great American Conference Women’s Golf Championships by posting the lone sub-300 round on the Park Course at the Hot Springs Country Club on Monday to establish an 18-shot advantage.
The Golden Suns bested the field by 13 shots during the second round. Peerada Piddon continued to set the pace in the individual race as she carded an even-par round of 72 to post a two-day total of 1-under par 143 and own a four-shot advantage over her closest competitor, Southwestern Oklahoma State’s Gloria Choi. Her round featured 16 pars, a birdie and a bogey.
Holly Standing moved up seven places after shooting a 2-over 74 and Avery Struck climbed six positions to share seventh place thanks to a 3-over 75. Pia Nunbhakdi finished the day in third place after shot 76.
Headed up by the play of Choi, SWOSU further separated itself from third-place Henderson State as the Bulldogs lead the Reddies by six shots. After shooting 81 on Sunday, Tracy McGill shot the team’s second-lowest score, a 77, and jumped up from 25
th to 18
th.
All four of the scoring Reddie golfers broke 80, led by Luisa Gartmann’s 3-over 75. She moved into the top five in the individual standings.
Southern Arkansas and Oklahoma Baptist remained in fourth and fifth. The Lady Muleriders bested the Lady Bison by three strokes to lead them by four shots. SAU’s Helle Leed continued to lead her squad as she finished tied with Gartmann for fourth. Oklahoma Baptist’s Emmy Baze made the biggest move up the leaderboard as she leapt 12 golfers and into a tie for 15
th thanks to a second-round 75. Michelle Carr maintained her place in the top 10 after shooting a 79.
Southern Nazarene beat Arkansas-Monticello by 14 shots to pass the Blossoms and take over sixth place. Sarar Rovenstine improved upon her first-round score by 10 shots to aid the Crimson Storm. Kaylee Petersen and Bailey Blake also broke 80.
Harding improved by eight shots from its first round to finish in eighth, followed by Northwestern Oklahoma State. The Rangers’ Kelsi Wilson cracked the top 10 after she shot a 76.
Tuesday’s final round begins at 7:30 a.m. with the members of the Blossoms, Lady Bisons and Rangers teeing off first.