ORLANDO (UCFKnights.com) -- Kaeli Jones is the only golfer in a field of 90 to shoot under par in each of the first two rounds of the UCF Challenge. Jones parlayed that success into a a spot atop the leaderboard heading into Tuesday's third and final round.
Jones, who carded a 2-under 70 on Sunday, followed that up with a 3-under 69 Monday. At 5-under, Jones is tied with Miami's Dewi Weber, who carded a 66 Monday, which is the best round of the tournament so far. Jones recorded birdies on two of her first three holes Monday and only scored one bogey. She had a pair of birdies on both the front and back nine. Jones has nine birdies in the tournament, which is tied for most among the participants. She is 4-under and averaging a score of 3.80 on Par 4 holes, which is tops amongst the field. She is also -3 on Par 5 holes through two rounds.
"I've just been hitting fairways and greens and it's been helping me out," said Jones, who also noted playing the familiar Eagle Creek course has benefitted her this week. "It helps out a lot. I know where to hit the ball. I know where to place it on the greens. I know exactly what I want to do. It's like a normal day out here for me."
As a team, the Knights moved up two spots on Monday. UCF opened the day in a tie for sixth and climbed up to a tie for fourth. At 13-over, the Knights are nine strokes off the pace of Miami (+4). Wisconsin (+8) is second, while Iowa State is in third at 11-over. UCF is tied with East Carolina and Vanderbilt.
Anna Hack is tied for 35th at 6-over after carding a 74 (+2) on Monday. Ana Laura Collado is tied for 43rd at 7-over and also shot a 74 Monday. Kayla Kozak turned in a 73 (+1) Monday. She's tied for 55th at 8-over. Nicolette Donovan and Chinatsu Kobayashi (playing as an individual) are each tied for 69th at +11.
Tuesday's final round will begin with an 8:45 a.m. shotgun start.