KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – Charleston Southern senior Hayley McNeill fired a second round one-over par 73 to bump up 11 spots into a tie for 12th place on Monday at the Palmetto Intercollegiate. CSU moved up two spots into a tie for tenth place in the event, hosted by College of Charleston at Turtle Point Golf Club.
Kennesaw State tallied a +2 290 on day two to jump from fourth place to first in the 17-team field. The Owls, at +14 overall, lead Ole Miss by one and Marshall by two entering Tuesday's final round. Ole Miss's Diane Lim and Marshall's Shelby Brauckmuller are tied for the individual lead at -2. Old Dominion's Maggie Simmermacher, at -1, is the only other competitor in red numbers in the 90-player field.
CSU put together a strong first 12 holes on Tuesday to push as high as seventh, but struggled down the stretch to finish at 17-over 305. The Bucs can still finish in the top of the field, as they are just four strokes back of College of Charleston and Kansas through 36 holes.
McNeill started the second round in style with birdies at the par-four first and third holes en route to a one-under front nine. Bogeys at No.'s 12 and 14 cost McNeill a round of level par or better, but solid play keeps the Australian within striking distance of her ninth career top-ten finish.
Senior Milleina Ohara (T-54th) posted a 76 for CSU's second best round of the day. Daniela Intriago (T-60th) improved from a difficult opening round with a 77, while Andriel Aimua (T-41st) carded a 79. Aimua was +2 on the day and +5 overall through 12 holes but a rough patch from holes 13 through 15 led to a 41 on the back nine.
CSU is slated to tee off its third round Tuesday at 9 a.m. off holes 10 through 12 as part of a shotgun start. The Bucs will be paired with Daytona State and UNCG.
