Trojans Tied For Lead Entering Final Round
CARMEL, Ind. – The 19th-ranked Taylor women's golf team will enter Tuesday's final round of the Crossroads League Championship tied atop the leaderboard with No. 16 Indiana Wesleyan.
Led by stellar play from freshman Sabrina Langerak the Trojans jumped out to a lead in Monday's opening round of action. A freshman from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Langerak put on a show in the opening round, carding five birdies and just one bogey on her way to a 4-under par 68 that tied the Taylor record for the lowest round in program history. It was a ball-striking clinic for Langerak in the opening round as the Trojan sharp-shooter hit 15 of 18 greens in regulation on the 5,850-yard, par-72 layout of Prairie View Golf Club.
Senior All-American Nicole Jung added a round of 2-over par 74 in the opening round while the Trojans also counted a 79 from freshman Alyssa Schmidt, and an 81 from freshman Ellie Karst. Sophomore Elizabeth Kemper tallied an 83.
The four-time reigning Crossroads League champions, Taylor took a 7-shot lead at the midway point of the 36-hole opening day of the championship as TU tallied a team score of 302. Indiana Wesleyan (309), Bethel (310), and Mount Vernon Nazarene (310) were all in hot pursuit as the afternoon 18 began.
The Wildcats got hot in round two on Monday afternoon, quickly erasing the Taylor lead and amassing an eight shot advantage of their own midway through the second round.
The Trojans responded to the challenge on the back nine as the day began to wind down as Taylor's four counting scores combined to play the final eight holes at just 4-over par collectively while the Wildcats stumbled down the home stretch. The teams finished the long, 36-hole day tied atop the leaderboard with two-round team totals of 606.
Langerak continued her steady play in the afternoon with a 2-over par 74. Her two-round total of 2-under par 142 is four shots clear of second place on the individual leaderboard.
Sophomore Elizabeth Kemper showed tremendous grit with a 3-over par 75 in the second round while Jung added a 76 that included playing her last eight holes at 1-under par. Karst managed a 79 and Schmidt carded a 90 for the Trojans in round two.
Due to the forecast of inclement weather the final round of the Crossroads League Championship has been moved up to an 8:00 am shotgun start. Fans can attend the event free of charge or follow live scoring at Golfstat.com.
