Sept. 24, 2011

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Lady Vol sophomore golfers Kaitlyn Rohrback and Chessey Thomas led Tennessee during second round action at the Mason Rudolph Fall Preview in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, each carding rounds of 74 (+2).

The Lady Vols were without junior All-American Erica Popson in round two, who was sidelined with an injury. Popson led UT in scoring in 2010-11 and took second place in Tennessee's 2011 fall opener, the Cougar Classic.

"Today was a challenge for the four that played," head coach Judi Pavón said. "It's a lot of pressure to know from the beginning that every shot is going to count against the team score. I thought that Kaitlyn and Chessey did a good job handling the pressure of the day and turned in decent scores."

After turning in a first-round 83 on Friday, Rorhback shaved nine strokes off her round one score on day two of the invitation-only tournament.

"I put the ball in a lot better places today," Rohrback said. "Even when I wasn't on the green, I missed it places where I was able to get up and down. And I made a lot more putts."

Thomas recorded three birdies and dropped a stroke off her day one total as well, but the Big Orange sits in 17th place in the field of 18 that features each of the top 14 teams in the Golfweek preseason rankings.

"Not only do we have Erica out of action, but Nathalie [Mansson] also is sidelined so we are really missing our top two players. Erica is doubtful tomorrow as well, so we will need the remaining four to really be mentally tough."

Wrapping up the Orange and White lineup, junior Sara Monberg is tied for 51st at 74-79=153 (+9), while freshman AJ Newell stands tied for 66th with a 79-81=160 (+16) total.

No. 1 UCLA vaulted to the lead through 36 holes with a round-two 283 (-5). The Bruins have a 579 (+3) total and will take a cushion into Sunday's final round over second-place Alabama (585) and third-place North Carolina (588).

Tennessee will conclude play at the Fall Preview Sunday in a group with No. 14 Arkansas and No. 17 Perdue. The Lady Vols will tee off from the 10th tee at 8:04 a.m.

Live results of the final round can be found at golfstat.com.

LADY VOL SCORES
t31.	Chessey Thomas	75-74=149
t51.	Sara Monberg	74-79=153
t74.	Kaitlyn Rohrback	83-74=157
84.	AJ Newell	79-81=160
(93).	Erica Popson	75-W
17.	TENNESSEE	303-308=611