No. 14 Wolf Pack maintains lead at SSAC Championship

GREENVILLE, Ala. – The 14th-ranked Loyola Wolf Pack women's golf team continues to lead the Southern States Athletic Conference Championship after Day 2 of competition, putting together a team score of 302 (+14) on Tuesday. That was good enough to keep their two-stroke lead on second-place No. 2 Dalton State, and both teams have a sizeable lead on third-place No. 7 William Carey. 
 

Loyola has carded a 595 (+19) two-round score to Dalton State's 567 (+21) and William Carey's 612 (+36). Playing at Cambrian Ridge in Greenville, Alabama, the third and final round will take place on Wednesday. 
 

Emma Smithers' play during her second nine holes allowed her to move up to the top spot on the individual leaderboard. After a 3-over first five holes, the senior settled into her round by making four straight pars before her first birdie of the day on the 10th. Smithers would add five more pars then another birdie on the 16th hole, then she would finish her second round par-par to card her 73 (+1). She's now leading the tournament by one stroke with a 1-over score through 36 holes. 
 

Blair McKenzie is right behind her teammate in a tie for second place with a 2-over two-day score. The sophomore shot a second-round 74 (+2) on Tuesday to help the Wolf Pack maintain first place on the team leaderboard. Her first nine holes consisted of six pars and three bogeys, but she started her second nine with a birdie on the 10th to set up a good finish. After one more bogey on the 11th, McKenzie was 1-under through her final seven holes to remain in second place among the 33 competitors. 
 

Daniella Salazar remains in the Top 5 after her round of 78 (+6) on Tuesday. The highlight of the day came on the 10th for the senior, as Salazar made an eagle on the par 5. Catherine Singletary made a slight move up the leaderboard as well, jumping to 18th place after her round of 77 (+5). 
 

Lainey Cristan had a consistent first nine holes with eight pars and one bogey, but her second nine was a little more up-and-down. She'd go on to finish 7-over (79) for the day and 13-over for the tournament to sit in 16th place. Playing as an individual, Kaitlyn Montoya had a second-round 86 (+14) to sit in 25th place on the leaderboard. 
 

Women's Team Leaderboard

1. #14 Loyola – Round 1: 293 | Round 2: 302 | Total: 595 (+19)
2. #2 Dalton State – Round 1: 295 | Round 2: 302 | Total: 597 (+21)
3. #7 William Carey – Round 1: 306 | Round 2: 306 | Total: 612 (+36)
 

Women's Individual Leaderboard

1. Emma Smithers (Loyola) – Round 1: 72 | Round 2: 73 | Total: 145 (+1)
T2. Blair McKenzie (Loyola) – Round 1: 72 | Round 2: 74 | Total: 146 (+2)
T2. Petrone Rudolph (Blue Mountain Christian) – Round 1: 77 | Round 2: 69 | Total: 146 (+2)
 

Loyola Women's Leaderboard

1. Emma Smithers – Round 1: 72 | Round 2: 73 | Total: 145 (+1)
T2. Blair McKenzie – Round 1: 72 | Round 2: 74 | Total: 146 (+2)
T5. Daniella Salazar – Round 1: 71 | Round 2: 78 | Total: 149 (+5)
16. Lainey Cristan – Round 1: 78 | Round 2: 79 | Total: 157 (+13)
18. Catherine Singletary – Round 1: 82 | Round 2: 77 | Total: 159 (+15)
25. Kaitlyn Montoya (I) – Round 1: 83 | Round 2: 86 | Total: 169 (+25)
 

You can keep up with the Pack by following Wolf Pack Athletics on Facebook at Facebook.com/LoyolaWolfPack, Twitter and Instagram @LoyolaWolfPack, and by checking out our website at LoyolaWolfPack.com.