KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – Sophomore Madigan Murray recorded a program record-tying round of 69 Monday in the second round of the Kiawah Island Spring Classic, leading the UT Arlington women's golf team nine spots up the leaderboard from its overnight position.
 
Murray broke 70 for the first time in her collegiate career, and in the process became just the second Maverick in the second-year history of the women's golf program to shoot a 69. Her 3-under round featured five birdies and just a pair of bogeys as she catapulted an incredible 127 spots up the deepest leaderboard in college golf.
 
With 49 teams and more than 250 players competing in the largest collegiate golf tournament in the country, the Mavericks are in sole possession of 20th place following a second-round 300 – which represents the lowest round of the year by UTA. It also continues a spring-opening stretch of five-straight rounds below 310, the longest run in program history.
 
The Mavs have a 609 total through 36 holes, which puts them just seven shots back of 13th place in a tightly-compact leaderboard. North Florida leads the field with a 577 total, four strokes clear of 2nd-place Coastal Carolina.
 
While Murray highlighted the day for UTA, Kate Tran remains in the top-10 overall with two impressive rounds. The sophomore signed for a 73 in the second round, one day after establishing a personal season low, matching her career low and tying for – at the time – the 3rd-best round in program history with a 1-under 71. Her even-par 144 total places her tied for 8th, only five back of the leaders entering Tuesday's final round.
 
Sydney Garber posted another steady round with a 75, and her 149 total also has her residing inside the top 50 of the field. Garber didn't make anything worse than a bogey on her round, and rolled in three birdies.
 
Janane Tan (85, 168) and Abigail Adams (83, 170) rounded out the UTA scoring for the day and the 36 holes.
 
For Murray, she jumped from a tie for 180th overall after a first-round 81 to a tie for 53rd – easily and by far the biggest improvement in the field. Her round started on the par-5 8th, and she got off to a hot start with a birdie before giving a couple back on the 12th and 13th. However, she rebounded with birdies on the short par-4 14th and par-4 16th, made the turn at -1 and birdied the 1st and 6th coming in to record the near flawless 3-under round.
 
That 69 matches the number set by Ava Schwienteck last year in the program's first year of competitive action. It's the second sub-par round in as many spring tournaments for Murray, who shot a 1-under 71 earlier this month in the Texas State Invitational – tied for what was the 3rd-best round, but now the 4th-best round in the program's still-young history.
 
The 54-hole tournament is being contested over two courses. In addition to the par-72, 5,964-yard Osprey Point course the Mavs' navigated Monday, the field is also teeing it up on the par-72, 5,941 Oak Point layout which UTA played on Sunday. UTA and the other top-24 teams will now contest the final round at Osprey Point on Tuesday, while teams 25-49 will be at Oak Point.
 
Pairings, start times and live scoring for the final round will be available via Golfstat by clicking here.
 
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