Georgia makes big move as Rucker Intercollegiate leaderboard tightens

Though sunny skies didn’t necessarily translate to better scores in Saturday’s second round of the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate, a new day made a world of difference to the University of Georgia.

Shaking off their worst team score of the season in Friday’s opening round, the Bulldogs charged back with four players shooting even-par or better to move within striking distance of first-place Alabama heading into the final day at Long Cove Club.

Harang Lee led the way with a 2-under-par 69, capping her round with three consecutive birdies. Freshman Bailey Tardy, Rinko Mitsunaga and Mary Ellen Shuman all carded 71s, with Shuman also going on a birdie binge with four in a five-hole span on Long Cove’s back nine.

The resulting team score of 282 was not only a 19-stroke improvement over the Bulldogs’ opening round, but six shots better than anyone else Saturday.

Alabama continued to hold a three-shot lead in its quest for a third Rucker title in the tournament’s five-year history, but the leaderboard grew tighter after the Crimson Tide combined for a 298 that was 20 shots higher than Friday.

Virginia missed a chance to move in front amid the breezy conditions, matching Alabama’s 298 to hold its position in second. Oklahoma State (290) was another three shots back after moving into a share of third alongside Vanderbilt (300).

In all, seven teams will begin Sunday’s final round no worse than nine shots behind the Crimson Tide.

None of them, though, include the top two teams in Golfweek’s college rankings. Though No. 1 Southern California and No. 2 Duke improved their scores from Friday, the Blue Devils finished Saturday in 10th place with the Trojans 11th.

South Carolina was next, following a Saturday 291 that was 12 shots better than the Gamecocks’ opening round.

Virginia’s Lauren Coughlin and Vanderbilt’s Alexandra Farnsworth matched 1-over 72s to maintain a share of the individual lead at 139, as Alabama freshman Cheyenne Knight (74) fell off the pace.

Knight carded one birdie and 15 pars, but back-to-back double bogeys at Nos. 7 and 8 damaged her round. She slipped into a four-way tie for third alongside Duke’s Sandy Choi, Arkansas’ Maria Fassi and Oklahoma State’s Maddie McCrary, who all carded 70s.

As with the team competition, it remained tough week for the event’s bigger names.

Alabama’s Emma Talley, the reigning NCAA individual champion, was four shots back after a Saturday 73 that featured no birdies. Duke’s Leona Maguire, who sits atop the world amateur rankings and captured last year’s Annika Award as college golf’s top player, shot 72 and trailed by eight.

This story was originally published March 5, 2016 at 8:33 PM with the headline "Georgia makes big move as Rucker Intercollegiate leaderboard tightens."