AUSTIN, Texas -- Senior Perry Swenson (Charlotte, N.C.) fired a one-over-par 73 and stands in second place at four-over-par (75-73=148) after the second round of the Big 12 Women's Golf Championship at The University of Texas Golf Club on Saturday. The Longhorns, who have four individuals in the top 11, used the best team round of the day, an 18-over-par 306 (297-306=603, +27), to move one stroke closer to leader Oklahoma State. The Cowgirls carded a 19-over-par 307 (295-307=603, +26) on Saturday led by 2004 Big 12 Champion Annie Thurman-Young, who holds the individual lead at three-under-par after carding the only sub-par round of the day, a one-under-par 71.
"It's going to be a fight tomorrow," said Texas head coach Susan Watkins. "The elements are tough out here, but it is really going to come down to who wants it more. There are some great teams in the Big 12 and all of them want to take home the trophy."
Thurman-Young's total of 141 is the third-lowest after two rounds in Big 12 Championship history. She holds a seven-stroke advantage over Swenson, who finished third at the 2004 conference championship. Swenson opened second-round play with birdies on two of the first four holes. She made the turn at two-under-par, but four bogeys against one birdie on the back nine left her at one-over-par for the day.
"I haven't played in a tournament for a while," stated Swenson. "I used yesterday to get comfortable and I wanted to come out and play well today. I started off strong, but struggled towards the end. I want to come out tomorrow and put up a low number to help the team."
Senior Lisa Ferrero (Lodi, Calif.) followed up an opening-round 73 with a 77 on Saturday. She is tied for third place with Missouri's Maria Ohlsson at six-over-par. Ferrero was three-over-par at the turn and played the back nine even until a double-bogey at 18 left her at five-over-par for the day.
"I hit the ball really well today, but I couldn't get my putter going," explained Ferrero. "I'm going to work on the practice green this evening and hopefully, I'll do a better job on the greens tomorrow."
The other two Longhorns in the top 11, senior Mariana Salazar (Torreon, Mexico) and freshman Kelley Louth (Victoria, Texas), are tied for ninth place with Texas A&M's Nicole Melton at nine-over-par. Louth, who entered the day in a tie for seventh place, shot a seven-over-par 79 on Saturday. Salazar, who was tied for 12th place after the first round, carded a six-over-par 78.
Sophomore Julia Best (Bulverde, Texas) moved up from 42nd place into a tie for 27th after two rounds. She followed an opening-round 80 with a six-over-par 78 and is tied with three others at 14-over-par.
"We need to make sure we hit more greens during the final round," added Watkins. "We need to take the chipping out of play and get the putters going. If we do that, we will put ourselves in great shape at the end of the tournament."
Final-round action will begin at 8 a.m. (Central) with tee times on numbers one and 10. The Longhorns will tee off at 8:50 a.m. (Central) on number one and will be grouped with players from Oklahoma State and Missouri.
Team Standings (After Second Round)
1. Oklahoma State, 295-307=602 (+26)
2. TEXAS, 297-306=603 (+27)
T3. Missouri, 306-313=619 (+43)
T3. Baylor, 305-314=619 (+43)
5. Texas A&M, 310-316=626 (+50)
6. Texas Tech, 305-323=628 (+52)
7. Nebraska, 305-324=629 (+53)
8. Colorado, 307-323=630 (+54)
9. Iowa State, 317-314=631 (+55)
10. Kansas State, 320-314=634 (+58)
T11. Oklahoma, 314-328=642 (+66)
T11. Kansas, 311-331=642 (+66)
Individual Top 11
1. Annie Thurman-Young (Oklahoma State), 70-71=141 (-3)
2. Perry Swenson (TEXAS), 75-73=148 (+4)
T3. Lisa Ferrero (TEXAS), 73-77=150 (+6)
T3. Maria Ohlsson (Missouri), 74-76=150 (+6)
T5. Elli Brown (Nebraska), 74-77=151 (+7)
T5. Candie Herrera (Oklahoma State), 74-77=151 (+7)
T5. Karin Sjodin (Oklahoma State), 71-80=151 (+7)
8. Allison Rella (Colorado), 70-82=152 (+8)
T9. Kelley Louth (TEXAS), 74-79=153 (+9)
T9. Nicole Melton (Texas A&M), 76-77=153 (+9)
T9. Mariana Salazar (TEXAS), 75-78=153 (+9)
Other Texas Individuals
T27. Julia Best, 80-78=158 (+14)
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