WOMEN'S GOLF TAKES TEAM LEAD; HALL INDIVIDUAL LEAD AT BIG SKY CHAMPIONSHIP
4/23/2012
Freshman Lexie Hall is the individual leader after two rounds of the Big Sky Championship.
CHANDLER, Ariz. — A career best 69 from freshman Lexie Hall lifted Sacramento State into the lead during the second round of the Big Sky Women's Golf Championship on Monday at Ocotillo Golf Resort.
Hall's score is tied for the second lowest in school history and the team score of 291 is the second best in the Sacramento State record book.
The Hornets trailed Northern Colorado by six strokes after the first round but finished eight strokes better that the Bears to take the team lead. Sacramento State owns a two-round total of 587 with Northern Colorado at 589. Northern Arizona is also within striking distance at 595. The tournament will conclude on Tuesday at 6:30 a.m.
Hall claimed the individual lead with a round which featured three birdies and 15 bars. The Austin, Texas native posted birdies on Nos. 2, 8 and 14 — all par fours. Her previous collegiate best was 71 at the Folino Invitational on Feb. 21.
"Lexie is playing wonderful and has given herself a chance to win a conference title," Sacramento State Director of Golf David Sutherland said. "She didn't make a bogey today but she would probably tell you that she left some strokes out there.
"This is a great team where everyone gets along really well," Sutherland continued. "We are playing well as a team and need to keep playing the type of golf we've been playing."
Senior Julie Shutler stands in fifth place after shooting 71 in the second round. Shutler opened her round with a birdie on the par-5 first hole and then strung together 12 straight birdies. A bogey on the par-4 14th ended the streak but was immediately followed by a birdie on the par-4 15th. She ended her round with a par on 16, a bogey on 17 and a birdie on the par-5 18th.
Kercia Brakel shot 76 which ties her for 12th place with a 36-hole total of 150. Brakel was 1-over through nine holes with a birdie, six pars and two bogeys. Her back nine had seven pars, a bogey and a double-bogey.
Freshman Sagee Palavivatana contributed a round of 75 towards the team score. Palavivatana was 3-over through her first eight holes but player her final 10 holes even with a birdie on the par-4 ninth, eight pars and a bogey.
Hall holds a two stroke lead over Portland State's Tiffany Schoning and Northern Colorado's Chelsea Silvers. The three are the only members of the 45-woman field to be under par through two rounds. Hall is looking to become the first Sacramento State golfer to win the Big Sky individual title since Margaux Sheehan in 2007. That season also marked the last time that the Hornets won the Big Sky team championship.
"I went into this tournament just trying to have fun,'' Hall said. "My goal was to have fun with every swing I took. I like this course because I can go at it aggressively, but it's still a challenge.''
BIG SKY WOMEN'S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
Ocotillo Golf Resort • Chandler, Ariz.
Par 72 • 6,162 Yards
TEAM STANDINGS 1. Sacramento State 296-291-587
2. Northern Colorado 290-299-589
3. Northern Arizona 298-297-595
4. Montana 303-301-604
5. Portland State 312-295-607
6. Weber State 306-302-608
7. Montana State 311-313-624
8. Eastern Washington 314-323-637
9. Idaho State 334-332-666
INDIVIDUAL TOP FIVE 1. Lexie Hall, SAC, 72-69-141
T2. Tiffany Schoning, PSU, 75-68-143
T2. Chelsea Silvers, NC, 71-72-143
4. Carleigh Silvers, NC, 71-73-144 5. Julie Shutler, SAC, 74-71-145
