Mary Joiner

Behind the best single round in program history, Western Kentucky women’s golf is tied for second place heading into the final day of North Florida’s UNF Collegiate.

The Lady Toppers fired a two-round total of 586 (286-300) on Monday at the par-72, 5,926-yard Jacksonville Golf and Country Club in Jacksonville, Fla.

WKU’s 2-under 286 in the first round was the best team score in the history of the program, topping a pair of 288s – most recently accomplished at the MSU Spring Citrus Challenge in spring 2017.

All of the top-10 best single-round scores in program history have come in WKU head coach Adam Gary’s tenure since 2014.

“I’m so proud of the team’s historic accomplishment today,” Gary said in a news release. “They have been working really hard, and it’s nice to see it pay off.”

WKU got its spark from a pair of outstanding days from sophomore Mary Joiner and senior Katie Story. Joiner is tied for third with a career-low 142 (69-73) total, while Story is one stroke back and tied for fifth with a career-low 143 (68-75).

Joiner’s 142 total is the best 36-hole score for a Lady Topper this season, and her first-round 69 ties her single-round season low. She torched the par-5 holes Monday at 7 under, while WKU shot 15 under as a team on par-5s.

Story fired a career-low 68 in the opening round, which ties for the third-best single-round score in program history. In the first round, Joiner and Story mustered a combined seven birdies, two bogeys and an eagle.

Freshman Megan Clarke also had a strong opening round with an even-par 72 and is tied for 33rd at 151 (72-79). Senior Georgina Blackman is tied for 41st at 153 (77-76), and sophomore Bailey Tyree is tied for 45th at 154 (78-76).

Old Dominion leads the team standings with a 571 tally, while WKU is tied with Murray State for second at 586. Daytona State’s Jiwon Jeon is the individual leader with a 36-hole total of 135.

Tuesday’s final round is scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m. CT with a shotgun start.{&end}