Flashes Slip to Tie for 11th on Day Two at Liz Murphey
Team struggles early before settling down on back nine
ATHENS, Ga. – The Kent State women's golf team could not keep the pace it set in the opening round of the 40th annual Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic on Saturday, as the team dropped to a tie for 11th place on Saturday.
Kent State entered the day in a tie for sixth after a solid round, but the Golden Flashes combined to shoot an 18-over 306 to drop on the team leaderboard. Kent State is one of four teams (Wake Forest, Florida State and Oklahoma) separated by just one stroke.
Senior Mercedes Germino (Necochea, Argentina) led Kent State with a two-over 74, as five birdies were cancelled by seven bogeys on the day. Germino did manage to go one-under on the back nine, aided by four birdies. She is now tied for 20th overall.
Senior Shamira Marshall (Macedonia, Ohio) matched her effort from Friday with a five-over 77, aided late by a birdie on the par-5 No. 17. Freshman Jennifer Ha (Calgary, Alberta) also shot five-over on Saturday, as her birdie on the par-3 No. 16 helped her shoot one-over on the back nine.
Senior Mandi Morrow (Kent, Ohio) tallied a trio of birdies on Saturday, but was unable to utilize that momentum on the way to a six-over 78. Sophomore Erin Hawe (Walton, New Zealand) rounded out the team's effort with an eight-over 80.
Second-ranked Alabama maintained its lead on the 18-team field, as the Tide were the only team to break par on Saturday.
Kent State will be paired with Arkansas and Wake Forest Sunday, April 1 for the tournament's final round. With a 9 a.m. shotgun start, the Golden Flashes will start from holes 10-12.
