The Valparaiso women’s golf team is taking aim at its best-ever finish at the Horizon League Championship, moving up one spot on Saturday to enter the final round of play from Mission Inn Resort & Club in Howey in the Hills, Fla. in third place.  Senior Michelle Kleckner (New Brighton, Minn./Irondale) is just two strokes out of the individual lead through 36 holes.

The Crusaders shot a team round of 320 on Saturday and sit at 638 through 36 holes, good for third position and just six strokes back of second place.  Oakland leads the team standings at 624, while Youngstown State’s Emily Dixon and Detroit’s Lindsey Lammers are tied for the individual lead at 153.

Kleckner carded a 76 on Saturday, matching the second-lowest round of the day, and now sits at 155 through 36 holes, just two shots out of the lead.  The senior used a trio of birdies over the final 10 holes to maintain pace just behind the leaders.  Sophomore Sibil Gill (Kokomo, Ind./Western) is second-best among Crusader golfers entering Sunday after a round of 79 on Saturday, leaving her in a tie for 13^th place at 159.

Senior Erika Pfaender (Pewaukee, Wis./Arrowhead) improved by three strokes on Saturday, shooting an 80 to end the second round at 163, good for a tie for 19^th position.  Freshman Angie Kim (Schaumburg, Ill./Fremd) is two shots further back at 165 through 36 holes to enter Sunday tied for 21^st place, while senior Kelly Voigt (Palatine, Ill./Fremd) tallied one of just two eagles in the tournament on the 13^th hole Saturday and currently sits in 25^th place at 166.

Valparaiso closes out the 2014 Horizon League Championship with the tournament’s final 18 holes on Sunday.