BROOKSVILLE, Fla. – SMU remained at the top of the team draw and SMU freshman Michelle Zhang kept her lead in the medalist position following 36 holes at the 2023 American Women’s Golf Championship at Southern Hills Plantation Club.
 
The average score on the first 36 holes of the tournament was 74.08 on the par-72, 6,289-yard course. Nine different players turned in an under-par score for the second round.
 
SMU stayed strong in first place, shooting 289 (+1) as a team to finish day two at 11-under 565 (276-289). Michelle Zhang kept her hot start to the championship, improving her score to 10-under through two days, after shooting 4-under in round two.
 
Tulsa holds a tie for second place, shooting 290 (+2) during round two. Lilly Thomas led the round for the Golden Hurricane, shooting a 2-under to improve her two-day score to 3-under.
 
UCF’s Anna Nordfors bolted up the leaderboard, shooting a round-best 5-under to help the Knights move into a tie for third place over 18 holes. Jess Baker and Tunrada Piddon both shot under-par, with Baker shooting 71 (-1) and Piddon shooting 70 (-2).
 
Houston shot even par for the course in round two, led by Moa Svedenskiold’s impressive 4-under par 68. Alexa Saldana shot a 1-under par 71 as the second-best Cougar scorer in the second round.
 
South Florida dropped two spots to fifth place, shooting a 297 on day two. Lauren Heinlein led the Bulls with a 2-under par 70.
 
Other individuals rounding out the top five scoring are East Carolina’s Oda Sofie Kilsti and South Florida’s Melanie Green, both of whom sit at 3-under par through the first two rounds.
 
Tee times for the third and final round of the American Women’s Golf Championship will begin on Wednesday with tee times off numbers one beginning at 8 a.m. (ET) and 10 beginning at 8:17 a.m. (ET).
 
2023 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE WOMEN’S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
Team Standings Through Round 2
1. SMU                    276-289 (-11)
t-2. Tulsa                  281-290 (-5)
t-2. UCF                   287-284 (-5)
4. Houston               284-288 (-4)
5. South Florida       284-297 (+5)
6. East Carolina       296-287 (+7)
7. Wichita State       303-297 (+24)
8. Cincinnati             302-299 (+25)
9. Tulane                  301-301 (+26)
10. Memphis            304-302 (+30)