Playing its most consistent golf of the year, the Lee women’s golf team (598) will hold an eight-stroke advantage over the University of West Florida (606) heading into the final round of the 54-hole Gulf South Conference Tournament on Tuesday at the Robert Trent Jones at the Shoals links.
The tournament appears to have turned into a battle between the Lady Flames and Lady Argonauts. The University of West Alabama is 17 strokes off the pace (615). Shorter University (619) was in second place after the first round but slipped all the way to fourth after a 318 round on Monday.
The University of West Georgia rounds out the top five (625).
Sam Burrus stepped up to give teammate Caroline Moore a helping hand on Monday. Burrus and Moore both fired 2-over par rounds of 74. Moore, with a 146 two-day total, is tied for the top spot in the medalist competition with Franziska Bremm of West Georgia.
After a slow start on Sunday, Burrus’ two-day total is at 153 and good enough for a tie for the ninth spot. Senior Callie Kitchens recorded a 75 on Monday to go along her opening round of 73 and the 148 leaves her in a tie for third place.
Cailey Gino has also stepped up to play a key role in the successful run of the Lady Flames. The senior has turned in back-to-back scores of 76 (152), good enough for a tie for eighth place in the standings. Bernadette Little rounded out the Lee scoring (78-77 – 155).
"I thought we played another very good round today,” commented coach John Maupin. “We've had several players step up and it's given us a great lift. We are going to enjoy the day tomorrow and just try to play our game."
With all four of its top golfers shooting par or better, the Lee men's golf team will take a seven-stroke lead into the final round of the Gulf South Conference Tournament on Tuesday on the Robert Trent Jones at the Shoals links.
The Flames posted a 3-under par team-total of 285 on Monday and their 36-hole total of 576 is seven strokes better than the 583 total recorded by the University of West Florida.
Shea Sylvester continued to lead the way for the Lee club. After firing a 1-under 71 on Sunday, the Roswell, Ga. native blistered the challenging course with a 3-under 69 on Monday. His two-day total stands at 140. However, he will only hold second place going into the final round of the 54-hole event. West Florida's Chandler Blanchet carded a 68 on Monday and stands at 139.
Peyton Sliger is tied for fourth (145) in the medalist standings. He had an opening round of 73 and shot an even-par round of 72 on Monday. In fact Sliger, Taylor Davis and Corey Sheppard all had even-par rounds during the second day of play. Davis and Sheppard are tied for sixth (146) in the individual standings. Adam Wright is tied for 11th, 73-75 – 148.
"It was another really solid round for our guys today," said a pleased coach John Maupin after the second round. "I love the fight that we are getting from all five guys. We have a great opportunity in front of us tomorrow. We are going to embrace it and do our best."
Valdosta State holds down third place in the team standings (597). Delta State and North Alabama are deadlocked for fourth place (600). The field consists of 11 GSC programs.