Women's Golf Remains in 12th at Mercedes-Benz

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Miami women’s golf team remains in 12th place Saturday after the second round of the 16th annual Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship.

In the lead through 36 holes is No. 31 Penn State, which owned a share of the first-round lead. The Nittany Lions own a one-stroke lead (4-over 580) over host and No. 27 Tennessee (5-over 581). No. 26 Purdue is in third at 8-over 584, while No. 23 Texas A&M is fourth at 9-over 585. No. 10 Northwestern rounds out the top five at 14-over 590. Miami shot a second-round 302 to finish at 34-over 610 through 36 holes, five strokes behind 11th-place East Carolina.

“We got better today,” assistant coach John Koskinen said. “That’s what we’re trying to do – get better every day.”

Miami sophomore Rika Park remained as the Hurricanes’ top performer Saturday, shooting a second-round 73. Park is tied for 21st overall at 4-over 148 after one of her most consistent rounds of the season. Park pared 15 holes and carded a birdie on No. 7. With a season-low-tying second-round 73, she is only three strokes outside of the top 10.

Fellow sophomore Leticia Ras-Anderica improved her score by one stroke from Friday’s round, shooting a 3-over 75. Ras-Anderica is tied for 40th overall at 7-over 151. Freshman Lauren Hendee is tied for 56th at 12-over 155, while Lauren Riehle is tied for 65th at 15-over 159.

Freshman Christina Ocampo, competing as an individual, was 8-over through the first nine holes, but rebounded with a 1-under on the back nine. Ocampo finished Saturday with a 7-over 79 and is in 60th place through 36 holes at 12-over 156. Junior Carina Cuculiza is tied for 69th at 17-over 161.

“Christina showed a lot of character today,” Koskinen said. “She’s been battling some sickness and didn’t start off well, but she bounced back really well.”

The final round of the 16th annual Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship concludes Sunday at 9 a.m. ET. Live scoring will be provided by Golfstat and @HurricanesGolf, the official Twitter feed for Miami Hurricanes women’s golf, will provide in-round scoring updates.