HATTIESBURG, Miss. (October 26, 2026) – The University of North Alabama women's golf team opened its fourth tournament of the season Monday at Hattiesburg Country Club in Mississippi, starting ninth place after two rounds of The Judson hosted by Southern Miss.
The Lions are just two strokes out of a three-way tie from sixth place, going 25-over in the first round before cutting nine strokes off that score in the second go-around. UNA had the sixth-lowest second round score to move up two spots.
UNA is at 615 as a team to sit +39 after two rounds in ninth place — leading Alabama State, Lamar, Jackson State and UAB. The three teams ahead by two strokes are East Texas A&M, Belmont and West Florida.
Four Lions are within the top two-thirds of the 75-golfer field, led by two in the top-25 with fifth-year senior Kerigan Klauber with rounds of 76 and 75 to start in a tie for 20th at 151 (+7). True freshman Celia Martinez Garcia, who anchored the top of the lineup for the first time in her career, was just one stroke behind her in 25th. She birdied her first hole of the day and added three more in the next round.
Senior Ava Schwartz returned to action this week and is four strokes behind Martinez at +12, while true freshman Ella Busby is one stroke back of her within the top-50. Junior Olivia Whittle is only two strokes back of Busby. All five Lions carded 78 or better in the second round.
UNA had 20 birdies in the first two rounds to rank sixth in the field and was the third-best team in the field on par-three holes. Busby was a major factor in that as one of just three players in the entire field to shoot under par on par-three holes at -1.
Klauber was electric on par-five holes with a -3 score on those holes.
"We were better in the second round despite not making many putts today," said UNA head coach Neil Self. "Looking to close out strong tomorrow to vault up the leaderboard."
South Alabama leads the field at 571 (-5) and is the only team under par as a team. Southern Miss, the host school, has the top individual so far with Louise Cuyvers at -8.
Play resumes tomorrow at 8 a.m. UNA will pair with West Florida, Northern Colorado and Belmont for the final round.
For final results, click here.
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