Alabama Women Take Over Lead

RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico. – The University of Alabama’s eighth-ranked women’s golf team fired a 1-under-par round of 287 in the second round of the 2010 Lady Puerto Rico Classic on Monday to take a five-stroke lead on the par-72, 6,193-yard Championship Course at the Trump International Golf Club.

The Crimson Tide’s 287 (-1) was the low round of the tournament and displayed impressive consistency with the top four scores ranging from 69 (-3) to 76 (+4). Alabama boasts a two-round total (36 holes) of 6-over-par 582 after a 7-over 295 on Sunday.

Alabama leads second-place Georgia (587, +11) by five strokes and holds a six-stroke lead on third-place Oklahoma State (588, +12). Fourth-ranked Purdue, who hosts the event, is in fourth place at 15-over-par 291. Kent State is in fifth place (600, +24) and Florida State is sixth (602, +26).

Sophomore Brooke Pancake made the biggest move of the day for the Tide with a 3-under-par 69 to move into a tie for ninth place at even-par 144. Freshman Jennifer Kirby, who entered the day in second place after a round of 67 on Sunday, slid into a tie for seventh after a 4-over-par 76 in round two.

Junior Camilla Lennarth produced another steady performance on Monday with an even-par 72. She is tied for 12th at 2-over-par 146. Senior Rhea Nair posted the Crimson Tide’s second-best score of the day and a season-low 2-under-par 70 and enters Tuesday’s final round in a tie for 20th. Helena Blomberg shot a 79 on Monday and is tied for 68th position.

Alabama will be paired with Georgia and Oklahoma State in Tuesday’s third round. The Crimson Tide will tee off at 7:45 a.m. local time (Atlantic, two hours head of central time).