Valparaiso’s Erika Pfaender (Pewaukee, Wis./Arrowhead H.S.) is tied for sixth place at the midway point of the Butler Spring Invitational held at Prestwick Country Club in Avon, Ind. while the Crusaders are in seventh place as a team following Monday’s opening round.

Pfaender carded a 10-over par 81 and is just four shots out of second place heading into Tuesday’s final 18 holes.  Butler’s Michele Nash leads the way after shooting a 73 on day one.

“Erika played solid today,” head coach Mike Higdon said.  “Her short game kept her in it.  She really grinded out there.”

As a team, Valpo posted a total of 343, and sits in seventh position at the midway point.  The Crusaders are 13 shots ahead of eighth place IPFW but trail fifth and sixth place Cleveland State and Robert Morris (Pa.) by just five and four strokes respectively.

Kelly Voigt (Palatine, Ill./Fremd H.S.) added an 86 for the Brown and Gold while Michelle Kleckner (New Brighton, Minn./Irondale H.S.) posted an 87.  Brianna Davy (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central H.S.) turned in an 89 as all four Crusader scorers were freshmen on Monday.  Annie Nolan (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso H.S.) carded a 94 while Jessica O’Brien (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton H.S.) added a 99 for Valpo.

“Everyone hung in there and is upbeat for tomorrow,” Higdon added.  “We hope to move up the standings a little bit.  We’re better than what we played today, but I think part of it is just the long layoff we had since Murray State.”

Butler leads the team standings after shooting 327, three shots ahead of IUPUI and Loyola (Chicago).

Valparaiso will return to the links on Tuesday morning for the final round of competition.  The shotgun start begins at 9:30 a.m. CDT.