Kent State leads after 36-hole day at Branch Law

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (Sept. 10, 2018) – Kent State didn’t graduate a single player from the team that made a quarterfinal run at the NCAA Women’s Championship last spring. In the squad’s first outing of the fall season, Kent State has already found the top of the leaderboard. The Golden Flashes have a four-shot lead on the field after a 36-hole day at the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational.

Kent State was 1 over in its opening round at the UNM Championship Course but rebounded with an 8-under 280 in the afternoon. Michaela Finn is tied for fourth after rounds of 72-68, and Marissa Kirkwood (the only player in the lineup who didn’t appear on last season’s NCAA Championship squad) is also in the top 10 after rounds of 71-71.

Tournament host New Mexico is tied for second with Northwestern at 3-under 573, four shots behind Kent State. San Diego State is the only other team under par after 36 holes. A 1-under 575 has the Aztecs in solo fourth.

The individual lead belongs to New Mexico’s Darian Zachek. The senior opened her day with a bogey on the second hole but recovered to log a first-round 70. Her second-round 67 included an eagle on No. 18, which was enough to bump her into the solo lead, two shots ahead of California’s Cindy Oh.

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