Kayla Smith shot a career-best 65 Monday in the second round to tie the 18-hole school record and lead the University of North Carolina to fourth place after 36 holes in the 14-team Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational at the Governors Club in Chapel Hill.
Smith, a fifth-year senior from Burlington, N.C., made eight birdies and just a single bogey to shoot 65, tying Krista Junkkari’s school record which she set at the Cougar Classic in 2021. Smith rebounded from a 76 in the first round to shoot 33 on the front and 32 on the back nine. She is tied for fourth place at 3-under 141.
Smith, a two-time All-ACC performer, is Carolina’s all-time leader in stroke average and tied the Tar Heels’ single-season scoring record last year.
Florida’s Maisie Filler holds the clubhouse lead at 10-under 134 after rounds of 64 and 70. Filler leads Michigan State’s Monet Chun by three with one round to play.
The Gators are 14 under par with a 13-stroke lead over Auburn. Michigan State is third at 2 over, the Tar Heels are fourth at 7 over, one shot ahead of Florida State.
Carolina shot 298 in the morning, then cut 13 shots off its total to post a 3-under 285 in the second round in the afternoon.
Sophomores Megan Streicher (76-72) and Inez Ng (74-74) are tied for 31st at 4-over 148. Freshman Reagan Southerland and freshman Ing Iadpluem shot matching 75-74 for 5-over 149s.
The final round begins at 9 a.m. on Tuesday at the Governors Club. Admission is free.
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