Sept. 7, 2009

GLENCOE, Ala. - Linda Persson fired a three-under-par 69 to tie the Chris Banister Classic single-round record and pace the Lamar women's golf team into first place following Monday's second round at Silver Lakes on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama.

Persson and Louisiana-Monroe's Angela Drane both tied the record with their matching 69s. Persson shot a 33-36 for her 69. The record was previously set by Campbell's Maria Sol Arenas in 1998 and former Lamar standout Hillary Zeigler in 2006.

Persson and Drane are tied for the individual lead after setting the 36-hole tournament record at 143, to break the previous mark of 145 by both Arenas and Zeigler. Lamar's Stine Pedersen is third with a 144 after her two-under 70 Monday.

LU freshman Lauren Van Gerven is tied for seventh at 74-76--150. Junior transfer Ashley Thorpe cut three strokes off her opening round with a 78 and is tied for 20th at 150.

Sophomore Jennel Alexander is tied for 26th at 164 as an individual competitor. Classmate Fabienne is in 39th place at 171,

Lamar shot a tournament-low score of 293 to post a team score of 596 and take the lead after Monday's second round. Jacksonville State, which held a four shot lead after the first round, carded a 306 for a 605 total and is in second place. ULM is third at 610, followed by Indiana State (615), Arkansas State (623), Butler (632), Northeastern State (648) and West Georgia (678).

The final round of the 54-hole event begins at 8 a.m. on Tuesday. The Cardinals are paired with Jax State and Louisiana-Monroe and will tee of at 8:50 a.m.

1 Lamar University 303 293 596
T 1 Linda Persson 74 69 143
3 Stine Pedersen 74 70 144
T 7 Lauren Van Gerven 74 76 150
T 20 Ashley Thorpe 81 78 159
T 26 Jennel Alexander Lamar 81 83 164*
39 Fabienne Haremza 82 89 171
* Competing as an individual