NEED TO KNOW:
Piedmont Leader: 1st: Erin Donovan, 70-72 = 142 (-2)
As a Team: 2nd of 8
Event Information: 8 teams; 34 golfers
The Course: Carolina Trace CC in Sanford, North Carolina (Par 72; 5,633 yards)

SANFORD, N.C. - Erin Donovan fired an even par lead to maintain her lead at the USA South Women's Golf Championship and Piedmont women's golf is in the hunt for a team title as well, as the second round concluded on Tuesday afternoon in North Carolina.

In a remarkably close team competition through the first 36 holes, Piedmont and Huntingdon traded spots atop the leaderboard throughout the day, with the Hawks taking a one stroke lead into Wednesday's final round. 

Both teams shot slightly higher scores on Tuesday as the course played slightly more difficult. However, Donovan was undeterred, firing an even par round of 72 to lead by six shots with 18 holes to play. Starting on hole 10, she opened with bogey but then made a pair of birdies on her outward nine to move to 3-under par. While she made a pair of bogeys after making the turn, she got one shot back coming in to finish at even par for the day and remain the only player in the event in red numbers.


 


Keegan Goins played a solid round as well, posting a 5-over 77 that included a birdie and 13 pars. Goins sits in a three-way tie for third place on the individual leaderboard, sharing the spot with Huntingdon's Mary Charles Davis and Southern Virginia's Sydney Richards.

Elsewhere, Piedmont's final two counting scores came from freshmen with rounds in the 80's, as Addison Maney posted an 85 and Lila Polakowski delivered an 87. 

Freshman Zoe Shuttlesworth improved upon her first round by a single shot, with a non-counting 92.

Up next, the Lions will look to hoist a USA South trophy for the first time while Donovan is in the hunt for her second individual title in three seasons.

For the third straight day, the Lions will begin at 9:25 a.m. off hole 10, with Donovan slated to tee off at 10:05 a.m. as the team's final tee time.

LIONS ON THE LEADERBOARD:
1st: Erin Donovan, 70-72 (-2)
T-3rd: Keegan Goins, 79-77 (+12)
T-12th: Lila Polakowski, 79-85 (+22)
T-14th: Addison Maney, 84-85 (+25)
T-26th: Zoe Shuttlesworth, 93-92 (+41)

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- This mark's Donovan's fourth career par-or-better round at the USA South Women's Golf Championship and the first time in her career she has posted back-to-back par-or-better rounds at the conference tournament.
- Goins has delivered back-to-back rounds in the 70's and has her sights set on a top five finish.

HOW TO FOLLOW:
- To stay up to date on all information regarding Piedmont University Athletics, be sure to visit PiedmontLions.com and connect with the Green and Gold on social media. Follow the Lions on Twitter: @PiedmontLions, Instagram: @PiedmontLions, and Facebook. To follow each Piedmont athletic program on social media, use the Social Media Directory at PiedmontLions.com or click here.