September 12, 2011

Golden Eagles in tie for sixth after two rounds at Drake Creek Invitational

Tennessee Tech teed off its second tournament of the fall season Monday under warm and sunny conditions on the banks of the Ohio River at Murray State’s Drake Creek Invitational.

LEDBETTER, Ky. – Tennessee Tech teed off its second tournament of the fall season Monday under warm and sunny conditions on the banks of the Ohio River at Murray State’s Drake Creek Invitational.

After a strong start that saw Amber Shepherd fire a one-over 73 in the first round and stake a claim to second place, the Golden Eagles finished in a tie for sixth place out of 10 teams with a total score of 307-324=631.

Tech sat in fifth place after strong first-round performances from Shepherd and Katherine Bell, who shot a two-over 74.

After two rounds, it was Bell who led the Golden Eagles with a combined score of 151 after she finished the day with a 77 in the second round. The junior from Jackson, Tenn., is tied for seventh overall.

Shepherd sits in a tie for 23^rd with a 73-86=159, while freshman Maddi Everts posted an 80-80=160 in her first collegiate tournament to play as a member of Tech’s five-person lineup. Amanda Randolph shot an 84-91=175.

Brandy VanEtten, who was originally slated to play as part of Tech's top five, withdrew due to an illness. She was replaced by Katy Beth Glover, who shot an 80-81=161.

Murray State, the host squad, led the tournament after two rounds with a score of 295-290=585. Morehead State was 12 strokes back with a 597 while Eastern Kentucky (609), Belmont (617) and Austin Peay (629) rounded out the top five. The Golden Eagles and Western Kentucky (631) are tied for sixth place, followed by Lipscomb (648), Northern Kentucky (670) and Tennessee State (692).

Murray State’s Alexandra Lennartsson was the individual leader, firing a one-under 143. Lennartsson shot a first-round 73 and followed it up with a two-under 70 in the second round. Morehead State’s Marisa Kamelgarn (71-73=144) and Murray State’s Morgan Cross (74-70=144) enter Tuesday’s final round of play tied for second.

The third and final round will begin with a shotgun start Tuesday morning at 8:30 a.m. Drake Creek is playing to a par of 72 and a length of 6,178 yards.