Finn, Ruiz share Dixie Women's Am lead at halfway point

TAMARAC, Fla. (Dec. 19, 2018) – Two new players took the lead Wednesday in the second round of the Dixie Women’s Amateur. Kent State senior Michaela Finn fired the round of the day at the Woodlands Country Club, a 5-under 67 that left her tied for the lead with Canadian Michelle Ruiz.

Finn, who finished in the top 10 in all four collegiate starts this fall, opened with a pedestrian 2-over 74 on Tuesday, but on Wednesday she came back with three birdies, no bogeys and an eagle at the par-4 ninth.

Ruiz, meanwhile, started hot with three birdies over her first nine holes, but two bogeys in her final five brought her back down to 70 and she settled for a share of the lead.

Alexa Pano, the U.S. Junior Ryder Cupper and U.S. Girls’ Junior runner-up, lost a spot on the leaderboard even though she remains only a shot back. Pano moved from second to third, but with rounds of 69-73, is still 2 under and certainly within striking distance.

Clemson freshman Alexandra Swayne is tied for fourth with Meiyi Yan. Both are 1 under.

Celeste Dao, the Georgia commit, is part of a four-way tie for sixth that also includes first-round leader Kelly Whaley. Whaley followed an opening 68 with a second-round 76.