RSC champ Midway (Ky.) wraps up season at the NAIA Women's Golf National Championship
By Midway Sports Information
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- After a late finish to day one of the NAIA Women's Golf National Championship, the Midway women's golf team had a quick turnaround as they were back in action on Wednesday morning for the second round at Lincoln Park Golf Club.
The Eagles didn't open the way that they had hoped as they fired a 333 in the opening round, but on Wednesday they improved by four shots shooting a 329. Their two-round score of a 662 has them in 29th place, which is unfortunately on the outside looking in as they miss the cut.
The round wraps up what was yet another successful season for Otis Smith's squad. They won their fourth consecutive River States Conference Championship earning them an automatic berth to Oklahoma City where they made their fourth straight trip to the NAIA National Championship.
Leading the way for the Eagles on Wednesday was their lone senior, Rylee Beard. The Campbellsville, Ky. native didn't play her best on Tuesday with an 87, but she played much better in the second round shooting an 8-over, 80.
Beard had one birdie and just six pars in her opening 18-holes, but on Wednesday – although she didn't card a birdie – she posted 10 pars and nothing worse than a bogey as she finished the tournament with a 167 overall.
Showing the biggest improvement of anyone on the team was Rachael Shelton. The freshman from Leitchfield, Ky. didn't play up to her liking in the first round where she shot a 90, but in the second round, she fired an 82 to finish with a 172.
Shelton didn't record a birdie on Tuesday and only collected five pars, but like Beard, she made a big improvement in the second round. The freshman posted two birdies and eight pars on Wednesday to finish with an 82.
Staying consistent over both days was Hannah Scroggins and Kayla Meredith, who finished within four shots of one another.
Scroggins, a junior from Williamstown, Ky., had a birdie and seven pars in her second round to post another 83 en route to her 166 for the tournament. She also had a birdie and seven pars in her first round where she shot an 83 as well.
Like Beard and Shelton, Meredith improved in her second round. The junior from Brownsville, Ky. carded nine pars in her second round where she shot an 84 after shooting an 86 on Tuesday as she finished with a two-round total of a 170.
The final Eagle in action on Wednesday was Jenna Lewis. Unfortunately for the sophomore from Shelbyville, Ky., she didn't play as well as she did in the first round. She was in a tie for 53rd after posting a 5-over 77 in the first round, but she struggled on Wednesday with an 84 to card a two-round total of a 161.
The second round not only wraps up the season for the Eagles, but it also put a wrap on the terrific collegiate career for Rylee Beard. The senior will leave Midway as a two-time All-Conference performer, while she has been in the lineup for all four of the RSC Championships.