LARGO, Fla - The 14th-ranked Saint Leo University women's golf team saved off nine strokes from its first-round score to jump two spots to the top of the leaderboard after the second day of the 2024 Sunshine State Conference championship. Maya Cote shot par in the second round to remain in the lead of the 50-player field. The three-day conference championship is being hosted by Eckerd College at The Bayou Club in Largo, Fla. 

Maya Cote (143, -1) carded 11 pars and three birdies to maintain her lead on the player leaderboard. Elena Verticchio (148, +4) moved up two spots and sits in a tie for fifth place. Pia Perthen (79, +7) moved into the top 15 after shooting one over while improving from her first-round score of 79. Both Ana Valentina-Guarderas (161, ) and Cajsa Strandberg (167, +16) shot a sub-80 with significant improvements from their opening round scores.

SAINT LEO: 1st Place – 307-298 608, +29
Maya Cote 71-72 143 -1 1st
Elena Verticchio 75-74 149 +5 t-5th
Pia Perthen 79-73 152 +8 t-15th
Ana Valentina-Guarderas 82-79 161 +17 t-37th
Cajsa Strandberg 88-79 167 +23 t-46th

UP NEXT
Saint Leo returns to close out the final round of the 2024 Sunshine State Conference championship on Tuesday morning and the Lions will be paired with the second-place Nova Southeastern Sharks, who the Lions hold a four-stroke lead over. The first pairing for Saint Leo is scheduled to tee off at 9:20 a.m. from the first hole.

Tuesday's full tee times: 
9:20 a.m. - Cajsa Strandberg
9:28 a.m. - Ana Valentina-Guarderas
9:36 a.m. -  Pia Perthen
9:44 a.m. - Elena Verticchio 
9:52 a.m. - Maya Cote