HOUSTON, Texas - The 2016 NCAA Division III Tournament has hit its halfway point, and the Wittenberg find themselves in prime position for a run at a first-ever women's golf national championship.
The Tigers carded a team score of 303 in the second round of the four-round, 21-team competition to move up one spot in the standings and within three strokes of the lead held by Rhodes. The Lynx, who won the 2014 national title, posted the best score of the second round with a 298 to move into the lead with a total of 610. Wittenberg is right behind at 613, followed by Texas-Tyler at 614, George Fox at 622, Redlands at 623, and defending national champion Williams at 626.
The key for Wittenberg once again was stellar play at the top of the lineup, starting for a second straight day by junior Macy Hubbard (Mason, Ohio/Mason). After breaking the NCAA Division III Tournament single-round scoring record on opening day with a three-under-par 69, Hubbard kept up her tremendous play with a one-under-par round of 71 on Day 2.
Hubbard's two-round score of four-under-par 140 on the par-72, 5,869-yard course at Bay Oaks Country Club sets another scoring record for the NCAA Division III Tournament. Hubbard, the 2015 national runner-up, enters the third round on Thursday with a three-stroke lead over Carline Ordian of Redlands.
Senior Maggie Smith (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore) also continued her stellar play, following up her opening-round 75 with a 76 to stand seventh in the 109-player field. Sophomore Jane Hopkinson-Wood (Pottstown, Pa./The Hill School) improved by seven strokes on Day 2 to post a two-round total of 157, good for 27th place. Senior Allie Lawwill (Springboro, Ohio/Middletown) is in 55th place with a total score of 165 and freshman Chloe Bradburn (Gahanna, Ohio/Columbus Academy) improved by five strokes and stands 70th with a total of 169.
"It was nice to see the team round into form and continue to get solid contributions from top to bottom in the lineup," said Head Coach Jeff Roope. "I'm hoping to see that same level of building and progress the next couple of days."
Wittenberg is back in a late tee time on Thursday. The Tigers will hit the course starting at 1:05 p.m. (CST)
Written By: Ryan Maurer