SOUTHPORT, N.C.  – Freshman Grace Lu fired the second-best round in the Colonial Athletic Association Championship history in leading William & Mary to its best 18-hole score in league tournament history on Saturday at The Reserve Club at St. James.
 
Lu, who sits in a share of eighth place through 36 holes, shot a bogey-free 4-under 68 on Saturday. It was the best round for a Tribe player in CAA Championship history and ranked second on the program's single-round list overall. She matched five other players with a 68 at the CAA Championships, just one shot shy of the tournament record of 5-under 67 held by Delaware's Andi Slane in 2015.
 
As a team, the Tribe turned in the second-best round on Saturday behind only leader Charleston, who shot a 4-over 292. W&M notched a 10-over 298 bettering the previous program mark in the CAA Championship by one. The Green and Gold carded a 299 (+11) in the 2008 final round at the Golden Horseshoe Green Course in Williamsburg. Overall, the Tribe sits in sixth place in the standing at 629 (+53) through two rounds. Charleston leads the CAA Championship (587) by 12 shots over UNCW (599).
 
Lu opened with six-straight pars, before birdieing two of the final three of the opening nine holes. She added birdies on the par-5 12th and par-4 15th to go with seven pars for a spotless 18 holes in round two. Lu's 4-under 68 was the best for a Tribe freshman in school history and tied for the best mark for any freshman at the CAA Championships. Through two rounds, Lu ranks second in the field in par-5 scoring at 2-under and fourth in birdies with six.
 
Freshman Avery Thompson shot a second round 75 (+3) and sits in a share of 26th through two rounds at 158 (+14). She shot a 2-over 38 on the opening nine, before bringing it home with a 1-over 37. Thompson ranks fourth in the field with 25 pars over the first 36 holes.
 
Graduate student Sarah Houle is in a tie with Thompson for 26th through the opening two rounds at 158 (+14). She carded a second-round 76 (+4) behind a trio of birdies. Houle enjoyed her best nine with a 1-over 37 to open Saturday.
 
Senior Mikah McDonnell rounded out the Tribe scorers on Saturday with a 79 (+7). McDonnell brough home her round a strong 1-over 37 over the final nine holes. She sits in 33rd place at 162 (+18).
 
The third and final round of the CAA Championships will tee off from The Reserve Club at St. James beginning at 8 a.m. on Sunday.
 
CAA Championships
The Reserve Club at St. James
Par 72 | 6,013 yards
 
Team Standings
1. Charleston 587 | +11 (295-292)
2. UNCW 599 | +23 (296-303)
3. Delaware 601 | +25 (300-301)
5. Elon 607 | +31 (306-301)
5. Towson 613 | +37 (305-308)
6. William & Mary 629 | +53 (331-298)
7. Monmouth 639 | +63 (314-325)
8. Hofstra 649 | +73 (332-317)
9. N.C. A&T 660 | +84 (332-328)
 
Top 5
1. Emma Schimpf (CofC) 143 | -1 (71-72)
T2. Mallory Fobes (UNCW) 145 | +1 (72-73)
T2. Phu Khine (UNCW) 145 | +1 (69-76)
4. Viktoria Hund (CofC) 146 | +2 (74-72)
5. Anna Kittelson (Delaware) 147 | +3 (72-75)

W&M Results
T8. Grace Lu 151 | +7 (83-68)
T26. Sarah Houle 158 | +14 (82-76)
T26. Avery Thompson 158 | +14 (83-75)
33. Mikah McDonnell 162 | +18 (83-79)
37. Simone Senk 171 | +27 (87-84)