DADE CITY, Fla. -- Barry University women's golf team tinkered at the top for a good portion of Monday's second round at the Sunshine State Conference Championships before settling on a tie for second entering the final day of play.
The Bucs shot 301 in the second round, cutting eight strokes off their opening-round total to move to 610 as a team after 36 holes. They are tied with Lynn, who followed up a first day 314 with a 296. Florida Southern leads the nine-team championship field at 604, following a 291 Monday at Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club's 6,140-yard course.
Barry's Taylor Babcock shares the lead with Florida Southern's Barbara Vejlupkova at 3-over 147. Babcock, the Buccaneers' lone senior, shot 1-over 73 in the second round after making three birdies for the second consecutive day.
Lynn's Jessica Bradley is third, a stroke behind the co-leaders, while Florida Southern's Jackie Rajek is fourth at 149. Nova Southeastern's Liliana Cammisa and Florida Tech's Felicia's Leftinger are tied for fifth at 151.
Bucs teammate Nancy Vergara is 10th entering Tuesday's final round after shooting 75 Monday to move her two-day total to 153. Her 3-over round consisted of one birdie for the second straight day. Her birdie putt on the 372-yard No. 8 hole dropped her to 1-under for the round, following seven straight pars on the front nine.
Barry's Daniela Murray had two birdies in her second-round 4-over 76. She is tied for 14th at 155. Maria Paola Fiorio birdied two holes on her way to 79, which put her 19th from the top of the leaderboard. Nicole Ferre shot 77 after birdieing the par-3 12th for her first sub-par hole of the tournament. She stands tied for 29th on the 44-player field.
No. 1 Nova Southeastern shot five strokes higher in the second round than the Sharks did in putting up a 303 in the first, and finds itself in fourth, a stroke behind Barry and Lynn.