April 25, 2009

LONDON, Ky. -- In two days of breezy conditions, not a single golfer has managed to shoot par at the 2009 Ohio Valley Conference Women's Golf Championships, but Tennessee Tech's Megan Bradford has come the closest. The junior from Jackson, Tenn., fired a one-over 73 Friday, slicing six shots off her first round total, and vaulted into the lead with one round to play.

The Golden Eagles, meanwhile, held onto third place in the eight-team field at the Crooked Creek Golf Community.

Murray State continues to lead the team standings despite slipping seven shots on the second day. The Lady Racers, who opened with a 312 Thursday, shot 319 Friday and are in first place with a 631, just four strokes ahead of defending champion Jacksonville State.

The Gamecock women crept ahead of Tech and into second place, following their opening round 319 with Friday's best score, a 316, and are at 635. Tech shot 618 Thurday and posted a 324 Friday, giving coach Brandy Stout's team a 642 total for 36 holes, just 11 shots out of the lead.

Tech is being chased by host Eastern Kentucky, which sits in fourth place just two shots behind the Golden Eagles at 644 after carding a 322 Friday. Austin Peay, which was in second place after the first round with a 316, soared to a 338 Friday and dropped all the way to seventh place.

Bradford holds a one-shot lead over first-round leader Carrie Riordan of Eastern Illinois, who stands at 74-79--153. JSU has the next three individuals on the leaderboard, with Portia Abbott and Laura Cutler at 156 and Lucia Fernandez-Valdez at 157. Bradford owns a tourney-leading seven birdies in the first 36 holes, while Bradford and Denman are leading the field in par five scoring, each coming in one under on the longest holes of the course.

Senior Madison Denman, who led Tech Thursday with a 77, is tied for 15th place at 161 after carding an 84 Friday. Senior Ashley Spangler is also tied for 15th with 81-80--161. Tech's tourney lineup also includes sophomore Carley Rhyne (81-87--168), tied for 26th place, and junior Diana Carson (90-89--179) who stands in 35th place.