Weather not too frightful for Lady Vols

The University of Tennessee women's golf team scored well enough Saturday to stay comfortably in first place at the Mercedez-Benz Women's Collegiate Championships.

However, that was still not the lead story from the second round at Fox Den Country Club. That distinction belonged to some even lower numbers - those of temperatures that dipped into the mid-40s.

As a result, the Lady Vols had to dress in clothing more suitable for ski slopes than the course. But they still managed a 3-over-par 291 to lead Louisville by eight strokes.

"That was a phenomenal round in this weather," said Tennessee coach Judi Pavon. "It was miserable out there all day."

Louisville actually had the best team score of the day, a 2-under 286. At 582, the Cardinals lead third-place South Carolina by 10 shots. Kent State is at 596, followed by Florida (599) and Chattanooga (602).

In the individual competition, Louisville's Sara-Maude Juneau - who hails from the cold province of Quebec - leads at 3 under after a 69 Saturday. One stroke back are Tennessee's Nathalie Mansson, from equally cold Sweden, and Laura Anderson of Louisville.

Lady Vol seniors Ginny Brown and Diana Cantu are tied for fourth at 1 under after a 73 and 74, respectively.

Juneau, who had a 33 on the back nine, joked that she does not even play in Canada when the weather is as cold as it was Saturday. "Today I was the same as the others - trying to stay warm," she laughed.

Although she has won the last two tournaments Louisville has entered, the Cardinals' junior said she has no expectations entering today's final round.

Mansson managed a 71 - Tennessee's lowest score of the day - despite three putting for bogey on No. 18.

"I am not happy with the last hole, but the whole round was pretty good," she said.

Freshman Sara Monberg from Denmark rounded out the team scoring for the Lady Vols with a 73, while Erica Popson's 78 did not count.

Pavon is hopeful the Lady Vols can hang on to first place today, despite Saturday's charge by Louisville.

"We just want to focus on what we need to do," she said.

Among the other individual competitors, Farragut graduate Jillian Brodd of Ole Miss is tied for 24th after a 72. Florida's Isabelle Lendl - the daughter of tennis great Ivan Lendl - is tied for eighth, while Wake Forest's Cheyenne Woods - the niece of Tiger Woods - is tied for ninth.

John Shearer is a freelance contributor.