FORT MYERS, Fla. – Xavier improved on its team score in the second round to take a six-stroke lead in the BIG EAST Women’s Golf Championship Presented by JEEP at the Club at Gateway in Fort Myers, Fla.  The Musketeers posted a team score of 8-over 296 after shooting 300 in the first round for a two-round total of 596 (+20).

Creighton is in second place at 602 (+26) with Seton Hall third at 610 (+34).  Butler junior Claire Edwards carded an even-par 72, the best round of the day by any of the 30 golfers, to move into first place on the individual leaderboard.  She made three birdies on the back nine.

Four of the five Xavier golfers improved their scores over the first round.  Senior Andie Shukow moved into a tie for second place after carding a 1-over 73 after a first-round 75.  Junior Abby Kiefer also shot 73 after a first-round 77.  She is tied for fifth place at 150.  Graduate student Mikayla Fitzpatrick, the defending BIG EAST medalist, and freshman Emma McMyler each carded 75 in the second round.  Fitzpatrick is tied for seventh at 151 (+7).  McMyler is tied for ninth at 152 (+8).

Second-place Creighton had taken the first-round lead with a 295, the best Bluejay team score since at least 2003.  In the second round, the Bluejays shot 306.  Sophomore Katie Allen, the first-round leader with a 1-under 71, struggled on the back nine and shot 78.  She is fourth with a 149 (+5).  Freshman Gabby Tremblay, who was in third place after a 1-over 73, also shot 77.  She is in a tie for fifth with Xavier’s Kiefer.

Seton Hall stayed in third place.  The Pirates, who shot a 309 team score, are led by graduate students Maddie Sager and Lizzie Win.  Sager shot a 76 and is tied for seventh at 151 (+7).  Win carded a 78 and is one stroke behind Sager tied for ninth with 152 (+8).  Win will be aiming for her fourth top-10 BIG EAST Championship finish in her career. 

St. John’s remained in fourth place.  The Red Storm improved by two strokes over the first round with a team score of 311.  Graduate student Linda Wang and junior Jessie Kweon are tied for 15th at 155.  Kweon shot a 75 after an 80 in the first round. 

Butler is one stroke behind St. John’s in fifth place with a two-day total of 625.  Butler shot 309 in the second round.  After Edwards, the best Bulldog is Katelyn Le, who sits at 159 (+15) and tied for 24th. 

Georgetown shot 323 (+35) in the second round and has 644 for the two days.  Freshmen Gabriella Gilrowski and Megan Gormley are tied for 17th at 156. 

The third and final round begins at 8 a.m. ET on Sunday.  Live scoring is available on GolfStat.com.
 
  
Team Standings – Two Rounds

1. Xavier                          300-296—596  (+20)
2. Creighton                    295-307—602  (+26)
3. Seton Hall                   301-309—610  (+34)
4. St. John’s                    313-311—624  (+48)
5. Butler                           316-309—625  (+49)
6. Georgetown               321-323—644  (+68)

 
Individual Leaders – Two Rounds
1.    Claire Edwards, Butler                    75-72—147 (+3)
T2.  Andie Shukow, Xavier                     75-73---148 (+4)
T2. Morgan Tinsley, Xavier                   72-76---148 (+4)
4.    Katie Allen, Creighton                     71-78---149 (+5)
T5.  Abby Kiefer, Xavier                         77-73—150 (+6)
T5.  Gabby Tremblay, Creighton          73-77---150 (+6)
T7.  Mikayla Fitzpatrick, Xavier             76-75—151 (+7)
T7.  Maddie Sager, Seton Hall              75-76—151 (+7)
T9.  Lizzie Win, Seton Hall                     74-78—152 (+8)
T9. Emma McMyler, Xavier                  77-75---152 (+8)
T9.  Katie Berrian, Creighton                76-76---152 (+8)