NEW ORLEANS, La. – Thanks to Hailey Jones, Junia Gabasa and Mattingly Palmer all shooting better than the field's average score in the second round, Texas State women's golf climbed three spots to finish Tuesday at the Tulane Classic (Par 72, 6,224 yards) in ninth with a team score of 35-over 611 (307-304).
 
Marine Griffaut, who entered the day in a four-way tie for first as an individual, held her standing near the top of the leaderboard after she shot a 2-over 74 on Tuesday. The senior ended the day in a tie for third with an even-par 144 for the tournament and three strokes within the leader, Notre Dame's Lauren Beaudreau (-3, 141).
 
The field of 100 players from the 17 schools averaged a score of 77.49 in the second round (77.44 in round one). The Bobcats had three players – Jones, Gabasa and Palmer – all shoot 76 or better on Tuesday while Griffaut was more than three strokes better than the average score.
 
Jones stayed within striking distance of the top of the leaderboard after shooting 2-over 74 on Tuesday and tying for seventh with three others. The graduate student is 2-over 146 (72-74) for the tournament and five strokes back of the leader.
 
Gabasa vaulted 14 spots to fall just outside of the top-10 going into Wednesday's final round. The senior shot an even-par 72 and was one of 12 players to shoot par or better on Tuesday. She will go into the final day in a seven-way tie for 11th with a score of 3-over 147 (75-72).
 
Gabasa was 3-under on the front nine thanks to an eagle on the par-5 6th. It was just one of seven eagles so far in the tournament, all of which were recorded on Tuesday.
 
Palmer was the biggest Texas State mover in the second round after she rose 20 spots to finish the day in a tie for 58th. She shot 4-over 76 – a five-stroke improvement from the first round – and is 13-over 157 (81-76) for the tournament.
 
The Bobcats' teams score of 304 in the second round was tied for the sixth-best. They were also one of six teams to improve their team score from the first to the second round.
 
The final round of the Tulane Classic will take place on Wednesday morning.

Course Info
English Turn Golf & Country Club (Par 72, 6,224 yards)
 
Team Scores – Through Round 2
1. Missouri, +13 (292-297; 589)
2. Colorado State, +15 (302-289; 591)
3. Cal Poly, +19 (294-301; 595)
4. Notre Dame, +23 (291-308; 599)
5. Tulane, +24 (305-295; 600)
T-6. Howard, +31 (303-304; 607)
T-6. Iowa, +31 (300-307; 607)
T-6. Southern Miss, +31 (304-303; 607)
9. Texas State, +35 (307-304; 611)
T-10. Harvard, +37 (309-304; 613)
T-10. UTEP, +37 (307-306; 613)
12. Memphis, +38 (303-311; 614)
13. Central Arkansas, +41 (304-313; 617)
14. Columbia, +44 (303-317; 620)
15. Princeton, +46 (311-311; 622)
16. North Carolina A&T, +49 (319-306; 625)
17. Wichita State, +55 (319-312; 631)
 
Texas State Player Scores – Through Round Two
T-3. Marine Griffaut, E (70-74; 144)*
T-7. Hailey Jones, +2 (72-74; 146)
T-11. Junia Gabasa, +3 (75-72; 147)
T-58. Mattingly Palmer, +13 (81-76; 157)
T-84. Yvonne Chamness, +18 (79-83; 162)
86. Carla Bourdeaux, +19 (81-82; 163)
 
*Competing as an individual