Louisville's Cason moves into Orlando Int'l Women's Am lead

ORLANDO, Fla. (Jan. 4, 2018) – On a blustery day at the Orlando International Amateur, Olivia Cason handled the conditions best. A second-round 71 at Orange County National’s Panther Lake course moved the Louisville senior into the solo lead at 4 under.

Cason, who hails from Owensboro, Ky., has been able to keep the big numbers away this week. She managed the tougher front nine in even-par 36 on Friday before closing with 1-under 35 on the back. Last summer, Cason qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open. She made every start with the team for the past two seasons, and qualified for the NCAA Championship as an individual at the end of her freshman season.

At Orange County National, Cason managed to leapfrog first-round leader Ashley Lau Jen Wen, a freshman at the University of Michigan. In increased winds, Lau Jen Wen rose from her first-round 68 to a second-round 73. She stands at 3 under.

Sophie Guo, an Orlando native who won the 2017 Doral Publix Junior, is solo third at 1 under. The next-best player, Leonie Bettel, is at even par.

A four-way tie for fifth at 1 over includes Cason’s Louisville teammate, Lauren Hartlage.