SARATOGA SPRINGS — Sydney Richards and Mia Pace each carded two-round even-par 144s on Monday to move into a tie for fifth place on the 66-player leaderboard after the opening day of the Wolverine Invitational at Talons Cove Golf Club in Saratoga Springs.
As a team, Utah Valley sits alone in second place on the 10-team leaderboard after shooting a two-round 12-over-par 588 (290-298). The Wolverines are just six shots behind tournament leader Wyoming (+6) heading into Tuesday's final round.
Richards opened the tournament with a 1-under-par 71 that included five birdies, four of which came on the front nine. She followed with a 1-over-par 73 in the second round, recording a pair of birdies on the back nine. Richards is tied for fifth at even-par 144 (71-73).
Pace also opened with a 1-under-par 71, recording five birdies with three on the front nine and two on the back. She then put together a steady second round, carding a 1-over-par 73 with one birdie and 15 pars to join Richards in a tie for fifth at even-par 144 (71-73).
Adley Nelson carded a two-round 5-over-par 149 (72-77) and is tied for 14th. Nelson recorded three birdies in each of her two rounds.
Maria Ortiz is tied for 20th after shooting a two-round 7-over-par 151 (76-75).
Rachel Lillywhite rounded out Utah Valley's team scoring with a two-round 11-over-par 155 (77-78) and is tied for 40th.
Kaylee Westfall leads Utah Valley's four individuals after carding a two-round 7-over-par 151 (79-72), including an even-par 72 in the second round, to sit in a tie for 20th.
Saydie Wagner, also competing as an individual, shot a two-round 13-over-par 157 (79-78) and is tied for 48th. Whitni Johnson carded a 16-over-par 160 (75-85) and is alone in 57th, while Eliza Zolman shot a two-round 29-over-par 173 (89-84) and is in 65th.
Southern Utah's Saylar Mar holds the individual lead after two rounds at 8-under-par 136 (68-68).
The Wolverines will wrap up play at the Wolverine Invitational on Tuesday with an 8 a.m. shotgun start. Live scoring will be available at Scoreboard.Clippd.com.
