Purple and gold knock out first two rounds of Boilermaker Spring Classic
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Tennessee Tech women's golf team completed a long opening day of action at the Boilermaker Spring Classic on Sunday, knocking out the first two rounds of play on the Ackerman-Allen Course at Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex in West Lafayette, Ind.
By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Tennessee Tech women's golf team completed a long opening day of action at the Boilermaker Spring Classic on Sunday, knocking out the first two rounds of play on the Ackerman-Allen Course at Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex in West Lafayette, Ind.
The purple and gold tallied a 318 in the first round before showing vast improvement for a second-round score of 304. Sitting at 622 overall, the Golden Eagles ranked in a tie for 14th overall with Toledo.
Illinois topped the leaderboard after the first two rounds, totaling 577 with rounds of 296 and 281 for a seven-stroke lead. Illinois State's Elise Fennell led all individuals with a 6-under 138, notching scores of 68 and 70.
Leading the Golden Eagle effort on day one was Chloe Griffith, who tied for 49th in the 96-golfer field with a two-round mark of 153. Opening the tournament with a 79 and 12 pars, the sophomore carded 2-over 74 in round two behind three birdies.
Tying for 63rd with a composite 155, Kaydi Rhodes kicked off the day with a score of 80 and 11 pars. The junior racked up 13 more pars in round two, tossing in a birdie on her way to a 3-over 75.
Freshman Kailey Lane turned in scores of 81 and 79 to total 160 overall, picking up a birdie in round one. One shot back of her teammate, Cookeville native Lexus Julian locked down a score of 161 while competing as an individual. Sporting a birdie in round one for an 81, she delivered two more birdies in the second round on her way to an 80.
Senior Reagan Stuke followed one shot behind Julian, tallying a 162 behind a first-round 78 with two birdies and a second-round 84. Rounding out the Golden Eagle lineup, junior Sydney Branson carded a 163, bouncing back from an 87 in round one for a 76 in round two, powered by a trio of birdies.
The third and final round of action at the Boilermaker Spring Classic is slated to kick off at 9:00 a.m. CT with a shotgun start.
| Top 5 Teams: | ||||||
| 1. | Illinois | 296-281=577 | +1 | |||
| 2. | Denver | 292-292=584 | +8 | |||
| T-3. | Cincinnati | 300-286=586 | +10 | |||
| T-3. | Illinois State | 294-292=586 | +10 | |||
| 5. | Princeton | 299-288=587 | +11 | |||
| T-14. | Tennessee Tech | 318-304=622 | +46 | |||
| Leaderboard (96 Golfers) | ||||||
| 1. | Elise Fennell (Illinois State) | 68-70=138 | -6 | |||
| T-49. | Chloe Griffith | 79-74=153 | +9 | |||
| T-63. | Kaydi Rhodes | 80-75=155 | +11 | |||
| T-82. | Kailey Lane | 81-79=160 | +16 | |||
| T-86. | Lexus Julian (I) | 81-80=161 | +17 | |||
| T-88. | Reagan Stuke | 78-84=162 | +18 | |||
| 90. | Sydney Branson | 87-76=163 | +19 | |||
| (I) - indicates competing as an individual | ||||||
File photo by Jim Dillon
