Western Kentucky’s women’s golf team combined for a 3-over par 291 — the best round of the day on Saturday at the 2024 Cardinal Cup — to propel the Lady Tops to a tie atop the leaderboard with Rutgers with 18 holes remaining on Sunday.

WKU is 12-over through two rounds. 

Six of WKU’s seven golfers improved their scores from Friday’s round to Saturday’s, and all four scorers shot either even-par 72s or 1-over 73s.

After 36 holes, WKU leads the field in par-4 scoring (4.14 avg), is second in par-5 scoring (5.08 avg) and tied for fifth in par-3 scoring (3.23 avg). The Lady Tops have made 115 pars (two off the most in the 15-team field) and 22 birdies (second most).

Averi Cline had WKU’s best round of the day with an even-par 72 – three shots better than her round on Friday. Cline has played the par 3s at even par through 36 holes. She has made 27 pars through two rounds. Cline was 2-over through 15 holes on Saturday, but made birdies on No. 16 and 18 to close the round strong.

“I was really proud of our entire team to put together the best round of the day in a very deep 15-team field,” WKU coach Adam Gary said in a news release. “Averi put together our best round of the day, but the entire lineup was solid throughout. We scored where we could and limited big numbers again today. We’ve put ourselves in position to compete for a title tomorrow and I’m looking forward to watching the team compete tomorrow.”

WKU’s Catie Craig sits in second overall at 1-under through two rounds. She trails Grace Lu (Rutgers) by one stroke. Craig leads the field on par-4 scoring at 2-under through 36 holes. She has also played the par 5s at even par. In total, she has seven birdies, second-most in the field.

Julia Zigrossi fired a 1-over 73 on Saturday, a two-shot improvement over Friday’s round. Zigrossi has eight birdies through two rounds, the most in the field.

Sydney Hackett shot a 1-over 73, four strokes better than round one. She has made 26 pars through 36 holes.

Kaylee Dwyer, playing as an individual, improved by two shots on Saturday, firing a 3-over 75.

Regan Folk (individual) and Nina McMurtrey both improved by four shots during Saturday’s round.

Sunday’s round is a shotgun start beginning at 8 a.m. CT. The Lady Tops will once again play with Rutgers and Middle Tennessee. 

TEAM LEADERBOARD

T1. WESTERN KENTUCKY | 297-291—588 (+12)

T1. Rutgers | 291-297—588 (+12)

3. Middle Tennessee | 294-297—591 (+15)

T4. East Carolina | 302-294—596 (+20)

T4. Louisville | 297-299—596 (+20)

INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD

1. Grace Lu, Rutgers | 69-72—141 (-3)

2. CATIE CRAIG, WKU | 70-73—143 (-1)

T3. Ella Manley, MTSU | 73-72—145 (+1)

T3. Joline Truong, Rutgers | 72-73—145 (+1)

T3. Thienna Huynh, Louisville | 71-74—145 (+1)

T3. Tatum Walsh, James Madison | 72-73—145 (+1)

T3. Carmen Griffiths, Louisville | 71-74—145 (+1)

T10. AVERI CLINE, WKU | 75-72—147 (+3)

T13. JULIA ZIGROSSI, WKU | 75-73—148 (+4)

T21. SYDNEY HACKETT, WKU | 77-73—150 (+6)

T29. KAYLEE DWYER*, WKU | 77-75—152 (+8)

T62. NINA McMURTREY, WKU | 81-77—158 (+14)

T62. REAGAN FOLK*, WKU | 81-77—158 (+14)

* — playing as individual