University of Tennessee Athletics
Popson Bounces Back, Leads Lady Vol Golfers on Day 2 of Liz Murphey Classic
March 27, 2010 | Women's Golf
March 27, 2010
By Zach Stipe, Media Relations Graduate Assistant
ATHENS, Ga. -- Freshman Erica Popson bounced back after a tough first day, but the 11th-ranked Tennessee women's golf team dropped to 18th after the second round of play on Saturday at the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic.
The Lady Vols followed a round-one 318 with a second-round 319 to capture a 637 (+61) total at the University of Georgia Golf Course.
The Big Orange, which is 10 strokes from 10th-place, will tee off as part of shotgun start for Sunday's final round at 8:30 a.m. Golfstat.com will provide live scoring of the final day.
Popson rebounded from an opening-round 86 to card three birdies en route to a 5-over 77 on Saturday. She is tied for 76th with an 86-77=163 (+19) total.
Sophomore Nathalie Mansson struggled on the front nine to begin the second round, but rallied to shoot even on the back side, including an eagle on the par-5, 18th hole for a 7-over 79. The Stockholm, Sweden, native is in 25th with a two-day 76-79=155 (+11) total.
Senior Ginny Brown scored her second straight 81 and is tied for 68th at 162 (+18), while classmate Diana Cantú is also in 68th, following a day-one 80 with and 82.
Freshman Sara Monberg rounded out the scoring for UT, firing an 82, as well, on Saturday. She is tied with Popson for 76th with an 81-82=163 (+19) total.
"This was another tough round for us today," Lady Vol head coach Judi Pavon said. "We just haven't played with confidence and it's been reflected in our scores. We are going to play more aggressively tomorrow to see if can build some positive momentum heading into next week."
Duke leads the tournament by nine strokes after firing its second straight 300, and Blue Devil Lindy Duncan continues to sit atop the individual leaderboard with a 70-72=142 (-2) total.
| LADY VOL SCORES | ||
| 25. | Nathalie Mansson | 76-79=155 (+11) |
| t68. | Diana Cantú | 80-82=162 (+18) |
| t68. | Ginny Brown | 81-81=162 (+18) |
| t76. | Sara Monberg | 81-82=163 (+19) |
| t76. | Erica Popson | 86-77=163 (+19) |
| 18. | Tennessee | 318-319=637 (+61) |
