RIO VERDE, Ariz.- The Western Michigan golf team came out swinging during round two of the Rio Verde Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 25. The Broncos combined score of 293 after day two tied the lowest team score of the day. After the big outing, WMU jumped six places and now sits in ninth place and 18 strokes behind the leader, University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC).     

"This team played with so much grit today," commented WMU head coach Elise Swartout-Mosher. "They really took what they learned from yesterday and ran with it. I am happy for them and the continued success they are seeing with their processes!" 

Senior Kaitlyn Watkins led the Broncos on day two, shooting 2-under par for a score of 70 with five birdies on 18 holes. The score also ties the lowest score of the day with six other players. Watkins leads WMU with a 150 score after two rounds and is tied for 17^th among all golfers.

Junior Julia Champion follows closely behind Watkins with a 151 total after 36 holes. The junior shot an even par of 72 after day two. Jasmin Chee improved her score after shooting one-over par, improving her total to 153 while Anna Wilcoxson has a 155 score after 36 holes.    

UMKC leads the 19-team field with a score of 591, six strokes ahead of Mid-American Conference foe Eastern Michigan. The Kangaroo's Chandler Gallagher came in even and is now three-under par after two rounds of play, leading all golfers with a 141 score.  

Along with the Broncos, MAC opponents Eastern Michigan (2), Northern Illinois (3) and Akron (10) are amongst the top-10 in the team leaderboard after two rounds of play.

The third and final round of the 2017 Rio Verde Invitational will begin at 10:30 a.m. (EST) on Sunday, Feb. 26.