Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
Conference USA Championships
Blue Raiders remain in ninth through second round of C-USA Championship
4/19/2022 2:39:00 PM | Women's Golf
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Middle Tennessee women's golf finished the second round of the Conference USA Championship in ninth place Tuesday at the PGA National Resort. The Blue Raiders combined for a score of 322 (+34) in the second round and sit at 639 (+63) heading into the final day.
Windy conditions played havoc Tuesday, resulting an average score of 80.88 for the second round, a full stroke higher than the first.
"Tough conditions with winds picking up around 15-20 miles per hour and some tricky hole locations got us today," head coach Chris Adams said. "We still had some mistakes that cost us, and you can't really attack too many flags to try and make some birdies in these conditions. We have another day to try and make up strokes, and we will leave it all on the course tomorrow."
Sophie Burks and Madison Smith led the way for MT on Tuesday with identical scores of 80 (+8). Caroline Caudill, Molly Bebelaar and Catherine Caudill each carded an 81 (+9).
Bebelaar ended the round in a tie for 14th place at 157 (+13). The junior from Louisville, Ky., is 14 strokes off the individual lead going into the third round. Bebelaar is 2-under on par 5 holes, tied for the second-best score on those holes among the 60-player field.
Burks moved up two spots from a tie for 30th to sole possession of 28th place Tuesday with a two-round score of 160 (+16). Her score of 80 (+8) was one of two Blue Raider totals under the field average for the round.
Caroline Caudill is tied for 29th at 161 (+17). Her sister, Catherine, is one stroke behind in a tie for 34th at 162 (+18). Catherine recorded one of MT's three birdies in the second round.
Madison Smith carded two birdies in the second round, including one on the 10th hole, her first of the day. She finished the round tied for 50th at 168 (+24).
After having trouble with the back nine on Monday, the Blue Raiders found the front nine to be trickier Tuesday. After teeing off on 10, MT was 19-over on the back nine before going 24-over on the front.
The Blue Raiders' 100 pars through two rounds are second-most in the tournament behind North Texas' 101.
The third round begins at 6:50 a.m. CT Wednesday. MT will start on hole 10 beginning at 7:40.
Players Mentioned
