May 16, 2007

SAN MARCOS, Calif. - Thirty-six holes into the tournament, and the race for the 2007 NAIA Women's Golf National Championship is no clearer than it was yesterday as 10 teams are within 20 strokes of the title. The 23-team tournament is being played at the Lake San Marcos Country Club.

Two-time defending champion Oklahoma City and 2004 champion British Columbia are still tied at 624 after both shot 310 today to follow up yesterday's 314. Rocky Mountain (Mont.) also shot a 310 today to climb into third place with a 631. Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), which shot a tournament-low 307 today, is in fourth with a 632, and Southern Nazarene (Okla.) slipped from fourth to fifth (637) after shooting a 320 today. The next 5 teams are all within 5 strokes of each other.

Oklahoma City and British Columbia have finished one-two in each of the past 3 tournaments.

Shanna Page of Bethel (Ind.) followed up yesterday's 72 with a 3-over 75 today to assume sole possession of the individual lead with a 3-over 147. Page leads Krista Burton (74-74) of Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) and British Columbia's Kaitlin Troop (75-73), who are tied for second with a 4-over 148. Anne Balser of Victoria (B.C.), who shared the lead with Page yesterday dropped to fourth with a 151 (72-79).

The highlight of the day came in the next to last grouping when Elizabeth Gemmill of Berry (Ga.) aced the 17th hole from 157 yards out. She finished with a 78.

Third round play begins Thursday at 8 a.m. The 72-hole tournament is hosted by Cal State San Marcos and the San Diego International Sports Council and concludes Friday, May 18.