JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga. -- The Bridgewater College women's golf team battled through rain and wind on Saturday morning as they completed the second round of the Jekyll Collegiate on the Indian Mound Golf Course. The Eagles dropped 12 strokes from their solid opening round, but still finished the day right where they were ranked in the field.
 
On a sloppy golf course that saw more plugged balls and double-bogeys than birdies, sophomore Sophia Martone led the way with an 81. After arriving at the driving range at 7 AM before the sun arose, Martone managed to play the first six holes at just +1, and she finished the round with a run of pars; in between those stretches, a pair of double bogeys and some unfortunate lies prevented a lower score.
 
Three Eagles tied to provide the team total, each of them shooting an 87. For Kaitlyn Gaeth, who is making her first appearance in the starting lineup, this meant a career round. The junior from Midlothian, Virginia had very little competitive experience when she walked onto the team two years ago, but she has been learning and working hard, and she has now dropped an impressive 22 strokes from her freshman scoring average.Gaeth birdied the par-3 12th hole today.
 
Senior Madolin Neff had a career round Friday but said her short game was not as strong during the second round, partly due to the muddy lies and patches of dormant Bermuda grass. She also came in with an 87.
 
Senior Shaina Beach struck the ball well in the tough conditions, but was frustrated with her putting. She managed to keep all holes on the back nine under double-bogey as she provided the final 87 that counted toward the team score.
 
Senior Savannah Scott had three double-bogeys in the first six holes, but was able to keep the rest of the round to bogey or better. She finished with a score of 88.
 
Sophomore Evelyn Hunter is playing in a separate, individual tournament this week at Jekyll Island. On the Oleander Course she shot 95 and completed the second round in 20th out of 29 competitors.
 
The leaderboard at the Jekyll Island Collegiate is full of nationally ranked teams, making the Eagles a 21st seed in the field. That is where they finished the second round.

"We got off to a good start yesterday," said head coach John Rogers,"but couldn't seem to get any real momentum today. Tomorrow we need to play well enough to punch our ticket to return to this great event next spring, but it would also be nice to move up a spot or two among all these excellent teams." Bridgewater shot 342 on Saturday.
 
Play resumes at 8 AM Sunday for the final round.