University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics
A-Sun Championships
Barnes Leads Upstate at A-Sun Championship
4/16/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Jekyll Island, Ga. – Spartanburg native Taylor Barnes shot a 74 in the second round and is tied for 17th heading into the final round to lead the USC Upstate women's golf team at the A-Sun Championship Tuesday.
The A-Sun Championship is being played on the Pine Lakes Golf Course at the Jekyll Island Golf Resort. The 54-hole tournament will conclude Wednesday.
Upstate shot a 316 on Tuesday and is ninth in the tournament, just two strokes back of Lipscomb for eighth place. As a team, the Spartans began the round well but struggled coming in, playing holes 16-18 at 11-over-par.
"We got off to a little better start today, but it was rough finishing," said Upstate head coach Todd Lawton. "I think physically, we are hitting good shots. Mentally and emotionally, we need to focus on more detail on our shots around the greens and our putting. We need to be more aggressive and believe there are more birdies out there, go after them and not settle for pars and bogeys. We have the ability to play a really good round tomorrow, play for the team and try to improve."
ETSU shot a 291 on Tuesday and owns the lead with a 578 total. Florida Gulf Coast is second at 589 and is followed by Mercer (592), Kennesaw State (594), Stetson (600), Jacksonville (601), North Florida (609), Lipscomb (625), Upstate (627) and Northern Kentucky (667).
Barnes followed a 77 on Monday with a 74 on Tuesday. She birdied one hole on the front nine and went out in 1-over. She played the back nine at 1-over with a birdie as well, finishing with a 2-over 74. She is tied for 17th with a 151 total.
"Taylor is hitting the ball well," said Lawton. "She is comfortable over the ball. Her last two tournaments have been very good and I am proud of her. She is mentally strong and wants it. I wouldn't be surprised if she doesn't go out and shoot a career round tomorrow. There is no question about her leadership and what she has brought to the team this year."
Amanda Hall (Tega Cay, S.C.) and Brittany Lowe (Spartanburg, S.C.) each shot 80 as the second and third countable scores for Upstate Tuesday. Hall is 38th on the leaderboard with a 158 total, while Lowe is tied for 39th at 159. Rachel Reiling (Littleton, Colo.) shot an 82 Tuesday and is tied with Lowe at 39th. Malika Allie (Cape Town, South Africa) shot an 83 Tuesday and is 45th with a 167 total.
ETSU's Gabriella Wahl and Sian Evans, along with Jacksonville's Jessica Welch, are in a three-way tie for the lead heading into Wednesday's final round. The trio own 3-under, 141 totals.
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