Oct. 11, 2008

KNOXVILLE, TENN. -

• Complete Results

• Final Round Tee Times

The University of North Carolina women's golf team fired an even par 288 and grabbed the second-round lead at the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship. The Tar Heels, with a one-over 577 total, got solid play throughout their lineup and hold a two-stroke advantage over Louisville which fired a four-under 284 to move up to second place with a 579 total.

"We're pleased to be where we are," said Tar Heel head coach Sally Austin. "We're playing well. We just need to go out tomorrow and do the same things we've been doing."

Tar Heel senior Sydney Crane fired an even par 72 on Saturday. Crane, a native of Jamestown, N.C., stands at four-under 140 and is tied for second place in the individual race, just two strokes behind Marika Lendl of Central Florida who shot a two-under 70 for a six-under 138 total.

Carolina freshman Allie White, from Lancaster, Ohio, fired a one-under-par 71 in the second round for a one-under 143 total and is tied for seventh place. Junior Kate Thomas and freshman Catherine O'Donnell are both tied for 27th place at three-over 147. Thomas, from Murwillumbah, Australia, fired an even par 72 in the second round while O'Donnell, from Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., carded a one-over 73. Lauren Hunt, a senior from Little River, S.C., shot 74 on Saturday for a 153 total and is tied for 55th place.

NC State stands in third place of the team race with a seven-over 583 total, six strokes behind the Tar Heels. Louisiana State is fourth at 584 while Mississippi is fifth at 585. Tennessee, which led after the first round, struggled with a 306 in the second round and is in seventh place with a 589 total.

While Central Florida's Lendl leads all individuals at six-under 138, Carolina's Crane and Louisville's Cindy LaCrosse are tied for second place at four-under 140. Lauren Doughtie of NC State and Dori Carter of Mississippi are tied for fourth place at three-under 141. Jackie Hilea of Furman is alone in sixth place at two-under 142 while Carolina's White is one of three players tied for seventh at one-under 143 - the others are Furman's Blair Lamb and Kent State's Kirby Dreher.

The final round of the 54-hole event will be played Sunday at Fox Den Country Club which features a par 72, 6,058-yard layout.