Brandy VanEtten (photo courtesy of Dave Winder, Murray State)

April 23, 2012

Golden Eagles in sixth place after two days at OVC Women's Golf Tournament

Brandy VanEtten is in 14th place overall individually as Tennessee Tech broke a tie with Eastern Illinois and moved alone into sixth place with one final round remaining Tuesday at the OVC Women's Golf Championships.

DICKSON, Tenn. -- Three of Tennessee Tech's ramaining four golfers improved their scores Monday on a very windy second day of the Ohio Conference women's golf tournament as the Golden Eagles climbed into sole possession of sixth place with one final round remaining on Tuesday.

Brandy VanEtten, the only Golden Eagle who didn't better her first round score on Monday, still leads the team overall. The sophomore from Jacksboro, Tenn., is in 14th place individually after following Sunday's 77 with an 80 Monday for a 36-hole total of 157.

Sophomore Amber Shepherd and junior Katherine Bell showed the biggest jump Monday. Shepherd sliced five strokes off her first round 84 to shoot a 79 Monday, climbing into a tie for 23rd place at 163. Bell went one better, shaving six shots off her firdt round 86 to shoot an 80 Monday. She is tied for 27th place at 166.

Junior Amanda Randolph is one shot back at 167 in 30th place. She improved from an 84 to an 83. Tech's fifth entry, sophomore Katy Beth Glover, withdrew from the competition due to an injury following Sunday's opening round.

Jacksonville State extended its lead from three to five strokes after day two. The Gamecocks, who combined to shoot a round of 314 on Monday -- 18 strokes higher than its first round total -- sits at 610 overall and has a five shot lead over Murray State and defending champion Morehead State, two teams tied at 615.

Despite the windy conditions Eastern Kentucky matched its total from day one and is now just five shots out of second place at 620. The teams are rounded out by Austin Peay (640), Tennessee Tech (652) and Eastern Illinois (667). Tennessee State is playing just three golfers this week and will not calculate in the team standings.

Individually, Morehead State's All-OVC first-team selection Marisa Kamelgarn vaulted into the lead after a 1-over par round of 73 on Monday. The junior is at one-over-par 145 for the Championship and has a two-shot lead over Jacksonville State's Lourdes Lopez Caballo who was the leader after the first 18 holes. Caballo fired a four-over score of 76 on Monday and is at three-over 147 for the event.

The final 18 is slated for Tuesday.