University of North Carolina Athletics
Carolina Within Striking Distance after Two Rounds of Lady Tar Heel Invitational
October 7, 2006 | Women's Golf
Indiv. Leaders | Team Leaders | Indiv./Team Leaders | 3rd Round Tee Times
The University of North Carolina women's golf team took advantage of better scoring conditions Saturday at UNC Finley Golf Course to drop eight strokes off their first round total and move into sole possession of second place. The Tar Heels shot an eight-over-par 296 as one of just two teams to break 300 in the second round. The team's improved play has them just five shots back of leader Vanderbilt with just one round to play.
"I don't know if the conditions were really any better, but we were certainly better focused," said head coach Sally Austin. "I was really pleased with the way we played. The girls were focused and just kept their minds on what they were doing. We're within striking distance--two or three shots is nothing in this game. With five people out there playing, the lead can change in one hole."
Junior Ann Laney carded the tournament's low round of the weekend with a three-under 69. Laney used two birdies in the first three holes to get her round off to a quick start and then nailed four more birdie putts over the final 10 holes. The Charlotte native played her best on the course's four par-5s, carding birdies on holes 3, 13, and 17. Saturday's round moved her from a tie for 43rd into a tie for fifth.
"It really did help, really got some momentum going," Laney said of her quick start. "I felt like if I could get it within 20 feet, I could make the putt. I definitely take this as a positive because it was a really good day, and I'll try to build on that for tomorrow and hopefully keep it going."
Senior Katie Miller also had a strong round knocking in four birdies on her way to an even-par 72. Miller climbed into the top 10 and is in prime position to record her highest career finish in the Lady Tar Heel.
"Katie played really well and steadily today," said Austin. "She and Ann, as upperclassmen, showed great leadership out there."
Sophomore Lauren Hunt followed the lead of Miller and Laney and continued her steady play with a four-over 76. Sophomore Sydney Crane dropped a stroke off her opening round total with a 79 while freshman Kate Thomas rounded out the team with an 81. Despite the team's improved play, they continued to have some struggles down the stretch, playing the final two holes at four-over par.
"I really just want the girls to go out and treat every hole the same and not look towards the end," said Austin. "I want the end just to come. You want to feel like you are playing well all the way through. We are going to work on that for tomorrow."
Nevertheless, the Tar Heels are just five shots back of leader Vanderbilt who remained in first place after posting a six-over 294. The Commodores' top three players all shot 73 or better Saturday and all three are among the tournament's top five overall. Virginia is in third place with a 604 total, four strokes behind the Tar Heels. Texas A&M and nine-time defending champion Duke round out the top five while Tennessee fell four spots to number six after an 18-over 306.
Duke sophomore Jennie Lee carded her second straight even-par 72 and remains atop the leaderboard moving into the tournament's final round. Lee has bogeyed just four of her 36 holes, the lowest total of any player in the field. However, following close behind is last year's medalist Ashley Knoll of Texas A&M. Knoll had control of the lead after a birdie on hole 7 that moved her to two-under for the championship, but a tough stretch on the back nine has her at one-over par in a tie for second place with Florida State's Caroline Westrup. Vanderbilt's Jacqui Concolino is just two behind Lee in fourth place while a group of four is tied for fifth at three-over par.
Tight competition for both the team and individual crowns is expected when play tees off tomorrow with a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m.
![Images from the first round of the 2026 Gators Invitational on Friday, March 6, 2026 at Mark Bostick Golf Course at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL. [Photo by Matt Pendleton Photography for North Carolina Tar Heels Athletics]](https://images.sidearmdev.com/resize?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdxbhsrqyrr690.cloudfront.net%2Fsidearm.nextgen.sites%2Func.sidearmsports.com%2Fimages%2F2026%2F3%2F7%2F260306-NCAAWGOLF-UNC-GatorsInvitational-0828-MattPendleton_copy.jpg&height=340&type=webp)
Players Mentioned
