KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — BYU women’s golf sits in 11th after shooting 294-296—590 in the opening 36 holes of the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship at Cherokee Country Club, Monday.

No. 9 Virginia fired rounds of 277-276—553 for a 15-under total to take a two-shot lead into the final round over No. 35 UCF who posted a 13-under 36-hole total with rounds of 275-280—555. The Cavaliers and Knights were the only teams to reach under-par double-digits through the first two rounds.

No. 5 Wake Forest is just six shots back of Virginia at 9-under-par after carding rounds of 286-273—559 for third place. Kent State sits in fourth at 6-under after shooting 284-278—562 with No. 30 Virginia Tech rounding out the top-5 after rounds of 281-285—566.

On the opening day of the championship, the Cougars turned in a 22-over total with rounds of 294-296—590 to sit in 11th entering the final 18 holes tomorrow.

Annick Haczkiewicz was the low Cougar through the first 36 holes as she posted scores of 75-71—146. The senior sits in a tie for 33rd with 18-holes to play at 4-over-par, just three shots out of the top-25.

Kerstin Fotu is a shot behind Haczkiewicz as she carded rounds of 72-75—147 to sit tied for 42nd. Lila Galeai is two back of Fotu at 74-75—149 and is in 51st place.

One shot behind Galeai is senior Allysha Mae Mateo who shot matching 75s in rounds one and Adeline Anderson rounded out the day for the Cougars with rounds of 73-79—152.

BYU will tee it up in tomorrow’s final round with live scoring available at golfstat.com and updates posted to the BYU women’s golf Instagram and twitter accounts.

PROVO, Utah — BYU women’s golf looks to defend its title as the Cougars travel to Knoxville, Tennessee for the 25th Annual Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship, Sept. 19-20.

“We are excited to be going back to Tennessee,” said BYU head coach Carrie Roberts. “We like this course and have had success there. We will need to play a little better to win this year, but I know our girls are up to the challenge.”

Allysha Mae Mateo, Kerstin Fotu, Adeline Anderson, Lila Galeai and Annick Haczkiewicz will tee it up for BYU in Tennessee next week. A year ago, the same group of Cougars posted rounds of 288-283-283—854 for a 3-over-par total to take home the 2021 championship by two shots over the Miami Hurricanes.

BYU was led to last year’s title by Mateo, who finished in a tie for 4th with rounds of 71-71-70—212, Fotu, who shot 68-68-79—215 to finish tied for 12th and Galeai who carded rounds of 73-73-71—217 to finish tied for 20th.

The No. 41 Cougars will take on a stacked 13-team field as they tee it up against eight top-50 teams, four of which are in the top-30, at the 5,930-yard Cherokee Country Club.

The Cougars will battle the host Tennessee, Augusta, Chattanooga, No. 46 Kent State, Maryland, Mercer, No. 19 Michigan, No. 28 Michigan State, No. 38 Purdue, No. 35 UCF, No. 9 Virginia, No. 30 Virginia Tech and No. 5 Wake Forest during the 54-hole championship.

Live scoring for the tournament will be available at golfstat.com wit live updates available on the BYU women’s golf Instagram and Twitter.