Falcons Off To Strong Start At Shirley Spork EMU Invitational

Monday, October 9

Ypsilanti, MI

All Day

Bowling Green State University

Shirley Spork EMU Invitational

October 09, 2017 | Women's Golf

By: by James Nahikian, BGSU Athletic Communications

Statistics After Day One

YPSILANTI, Mich. -- The Bowling Green State University women's golf program sits in second place at the inaugural Shirley Spork EMU Invitational after the first 36 holes (two rounds) of play. The tournament, which began Monday morning (Oct. 9), is being hosted by Eastern Michigan University at the Eagle Crest Golf Club.

The Falcons carded rounds of 302 and 298 for a total score of 600, which is the program's best 36-hole score this season. The 600 is tied for the second-best score in program history for 36 holes. Bowling Green, which was tied for the lead after the first round, will enter the final round tomorrow just four strokes off the lead.

Marshall (596) owns the 36-hole lead, while Bowling Green is seven shots clear of Western Michigan (607). Erin Fahey (75, 74 – 149, +5) and Nichole Cox (75, 75 – 150, +6) lead the Falcons after the first two rounds of play. Fahey sits in fifth, while Cox is tied for sixth.

"I am really proud of the team and their perseverance today in their rounds," said head coach Stephanie Young. "They remained focused with positive attitudes and posted two impressive scores. This is our first time playing Eagle Crest and it is a very challenging layout. We are excited to be in contention for the second week in a row. Go Falcons!"

BY THE NUMBERS
5: Erin Fahey (75, 74 – 149, +5)
T6: Nichole Cox (75, 75 – 150, +6)
T14: Julia Durkin (77, 76 – 153, +9)
T28: Madelynn Swank (75, 82 – 157, +13)
T28: Jessica Madry (79, 78 – 157, +13)
T32: Sammi Blackburn (85, 73 – 158, +14)

FALCON FACTS
* Erin Fahey sits tied for fifth, and is just four strokes off the lead, which is currently held by WMU's Julia Champion at 149 (+1).
* Fahey, who posted four birdies on the day, recorded one of just two eagles across the entire day, as she registered a three at the par five No. 5 in the second round.
* Nichole Cox carded a 75 in each round, pushing her streak of consecutive rounds under 79 to 13.
* Cox sits tied for sixth, and is just five strokes off the lead. Cox is yet again in contention for the second-straight week, as she finished tied for third at last week's KZoo Classic.
* Julia Durkin continued her career year with a 153 (+9), and is in position for a second-consecutive top-15 finish.
* Durkin entered this season with an 18-hole career low of 77. She's posted six rounds this season of 77 or lower.
* Madelynn Swank tied her career low with a 75 in the first round. Swank last carded a 75 in the first round of her career during the 2014-15 season.
* Swank registered four birdies in that opening-round 75, which was tied for the most by a Falcon on the day for 18 holes.
* Jessica Madry competed as an individual for the Falcons, making her first appearance since the Redbird Invitational.
* Madry posted consecutive scores in the 70's for the third time in her career.
* Sammi Blackburn posted three birdies on her way to a career-low 73 in the second round.
* Blackburn has now set a new career low for 18 holes at two-consecutive tournaments. Blackburn shot a 76 in the second round of the KZoo Classic.

TEAM TIDBITS
* BGSU's 600 is its lowest 36-hole score on the season.
* The 600 is tied for the second-best score in program history for 36 holes.
* Bowling Green's round-two 298 is its second-lowest round on the season – second only to the Falcons' round two at last week's KZoo Classic.
* The Orange and Brown lead the field with 22 birdies after two rounds of play.
* The Falcons shot an average of 3.20 on par threes, which ranks second in the field.
* Bowling Green sits third in the tournament with an average of 4.35 on par fours.
* Bowling Green sits third in the tournament with an average of 5.10 on par fives.

UP NEXT
* The Falcons will conclude play at the Shirley Spork EMU Invitational tomorrow with the final 18 holes of play.
* Round 3 is slated to tee-off at 9 a.m. with a shotgun start.