The Northwest Mississippi Community College women’s golf team maintained its ninth-place position after the second day of the NJCAA Division II Women’s Golf Championship at Ol’ Colony Golf Complex in Tuscaloosa. The team struggled to find momentum during the round, according to head coach Adam Payne.
Payne said the team battled emotions and never settled into a rhythm. Northwest finished the day at 124-over par, 18 strokes behind Mesa Community College and 26 strokes behind Southern Union State Community College in fifth place.
Bella McNeil led the Rangers once again, shooting a 12-over par after a strong start on the front nine. The freshman double-bogeyed three holes after the turn but remained optimistic about her prospects for the final rounds.
McNeil finished the day in 11th place overall, 10 strokes behind the leader and one stroke outside the top 10 tie. She expressed confidence despite the tough day and is looking to improve in the upcoming rounds.
Teammates Analeigh Little, Madison Baker, and Zae’Ja Davis posted similar scores. Little finished with an 17-over 95, while Baker shot her best round of the tournament at 38-over par. Davis overcame a stretch of four double bogeys to finish with a 95 and is tied for 58th at 41-over.
Sarah Niblett faced bad luck early in the round after an injury on the first hole. Despite her efforts, she finished with a 33-over score, placing 76th overall. The team shot 16 strokes worse than in the first round, ending with a 70-over total for the day.
The Rangers will look to rebound Thursday when they tee off again. Addison Forbes will lead off at 8 p.m., aiming to improve their standings in the third round.
