RAPID CITY, S.D. – This time, a rough start to the round didn’t pose that big of a problem for Lewis-Clark State College senior Cortney Shrout as she overcame bogeys on two of the first three holes to shoot 4-over-par on the final 15 holes for a second-round total of 78 at the NAIA Women’s Golf National Championships on Wednesday at the Meadowbrook Golf Course.
During Tuesday’s opening round, Shrout bogeyed three of the first four holes in windy conditions and went on to shoot a 13-over-par 85. On Tuesday, she wound up with a 78 to leave her at 163 overall. After standing in a tie for 73rd place after the opening round, Shrout moved into a tie for 52nd place.
Being one of the first players off the tee on Wednesday, Shrout had a par on the first hole and then had bogeys on the next two holes. She also had a bogey on the eighth hole to finish the front nine at 3 over. On the back side, she bogeyed the 11th hole before she picked up her first birdie of the round with a 2 on the par-3 144-yard 12th hole. She had bogeys on 13, 15 and 17 to finish the round, also 3 over on the back nine.
Shrout finished with 30 puts on the day, a remarkable feat considering she only hit eight greens in regulation, including just one on the back nine, which was the hole she birdied.
Shrout needs to improve her standing to the top 40 in order to qualify for Friday’s fourth and final round. She’s three shots out of the top 40 entering Thursday’s round.
