Kiawah Island, SC - The Stetson women's golf team maintained its position in the top five of the Kiawah Island Classic on Monday, thanks in large part to a career-best performance from junior Bianca Sol Cruz.
 
After posting an opening round 80 on Sunday on the Cougar Point course, Sol Cruz blistered the Oak Point course on Monday with a three-under par 69 to help the Hatters remain in contention for a second straight top five finish at the event.
 
The Hatters posted a team score of 295 on Monday to move into a tie for fourth place with Murray State. Stetson is only four shots behind Northern Illinois for second place and is one of a group of six teams within nine shots of each other entering Tuesday's final round.
 
Dallas Baptist University, which was second going into Monday's play after an opening 292, ran away from the rest of the field on Monday, posting a team score of 277, 11 shots better than the second-best score of the day. The Patriots will take an 18-shot lead into Tuesday's final round.
 
Stetson senior Hanna Kiefer is still within striking distance of medalist honors going into the final round. Following her opening round 71, she carded a 73 on Monday and stands at even par for the tournament. She is tied for sixth place, seven shots behind tournament leader Raeysha Surendran of Murray State.
 
Surendran followed her opening 69 with a 68 on Monday and has a three-stroke advantage of first round leader Faith DeLaGarza from Dallas Baptist.
 
Cruz came out firing on Monday, posting a birdie on the first hole and then following up with a three-hole birdie run on the fourth, fifth and sixth holes to make the turn at four-under par. On the back nine she sandwiched a birdie on the par five 12^th hole between bogeys on 11 and 13 before posting pars on the final five holes for her three-under par 69.
 
"Bianca played consistently all day," Hatters' coach Danielle Shelburne said. "I am so proud of the way she bounced back from yesterday's round."
 
Kiefer's second round was a little more mixed than the one she had on Sunday. Like Sol Cruz, she opened with a birdie, but alternated three birdies and three bogeys on the front nine and made the turn at even par. A birdie on the 10^th hole put her in position for a strong finish, but a double-bogey on the par four 14^th left her with a one-over 73.
 
Kiefer said she can't wait to get back on the Cougar Point course for Tuesday's final round.
 
"I am looking forward to playing another solid round with my team," Kiefer said. "I definitely feel like I can go low. I am excited about our chances in the final round here at Kiawah and I am hopeful that we can get closer to the second-place team. I know we have it in us."
 
Like Kiefer, senior Meghan McLean posted a one-over par 73 in the second round. She had two birdies and two bogeys on the front, but also had a double bogey on 14 to go with a pair of birdies, and a bogey on the final hole.
 
McLean and Sol Cruz are tied for 33^rd on the individual leaderboard in the 41-team field.
 
Sophomore Wendy Hsiao faced more of a struggle in the second round. She managed just two birdies with seven bogeys and a triple on the par three ninth hole. Her 80 on Monday dropped her to a tie for 46^th in the tournament.
 
Senior Sarah May was never able to get her game going on Monday, finishing with an 81.
 
The Hatters will play the final round on Tuesday at the Cougar Point course. Tee times for the Hatters are scheduled to begin at 10:08 a.m., and Stetson is paired with East Tennessee State and Wofford in the next to final groupings. Live scoring, every nine holes, will be available at Golfstat.com.

About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program has a vision of developing a culture of champions athletically, academically and within the community. This vision is accomplished through a mission of recruiting and developing student-athletes, coaches and staff, creating a culture of champions, within and outside of competition. The department operates with five core values: Championship Culture, Integrity, Excellence, Pride/Tradition and Leadership. To learn more about the Vision, Mission and Core Values for Stetson Athletics, visit GoHatters.com and click on Mission Statement under the Inside Athletics tab.