PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. – Austin Peay State University women's golf maintained a place in the top-five on moving day at Caledonia Golf & Fish Club for the Golfweek Program Challenge, surviving a second round that saw many day one leaders fall back in the pack.
While Austin Peay's 295 second-round score was off the pace of its blistering 282 over the first 18 holes, the Govs stayed in the top five, two shots ahead of Troy and five behind Memphis in fourth place. UNC Wilmington made a huge charge up the leaderboard on Monday, climbing eight spots into first with a two-round 565. First-round leader High Point remains near the top of the leaderboard at 569, followed by Campbell (570).
Senior Jillian Breedlove moved into the top 10 with a one-under 70; after a pair of early bogeys, she shot three-under on the final 10 holes, including a two-under 34 on the back nine. Only 13 birdies were recorded at No. 9 on Tuesday, while No. 10 yielded just 10 birdies—yet Breedlove was one of two players in the field to record birdies on both holes.
Sophomores Ella Arnzen and Jordin Cowing are tied for 25th after 36 holes; Cowing carded a 73 in round two, parring 16 of 18 holes, while Arnzen parred out the back nine to bring a second-round 75 into the clubhouse. Cowing and Breedlove are tied for the tournament lead with 29 pars through the first two rounds, while Arnzen is one of eight players averaging better than par on par-4 holes.
Senior Abby Hirtzel, who fired a 77, was even-par on the back nine and two over on the round through 17 holes before posting a quad on the 377-yard par-4 at No. 18, which has played as the hardest hole on the course through the first two rounds—of 240 attempts through two rounds, 119 have gone for bogey or worse at No. 18.
Junior Abby Jimenez stands tied for 37th with 18 holes to play after a second-round 78; she is tied with Breedlove for the team-low average on par-3 holes, at 2.90 strokes per.
The Govs close out their stay at the Golfweek Program Challenge with Tuesday's final round, scheduled for a 7:25 a.m. (CT) tee time. The Govs will be paired with Troy, Old Dominion and UNC Greensboro in the final round.
