Valparaiso is in second place at the midway point of the Loyola Invitational held at the Golf Club of Illinois in Algonquin, Ill., just two shots out of first place.

The Crusaders fired an opening round 326, two behind host Loyola.  Valpo has a 12-shot advantage over third place UIC.

Michelle Kleckner (New Brighton, Minn./Irondale H.S.) is in second place overall after firing a 78 in the opening round on the 5,911-yard, par-71 layout.  She trails Loyola’s Ann Vrdolyak by four shots heading into Sunday’s final round.

Brianna Davy (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central H.S.) is in a tie for fourth place after carding a first round 82 while Erika Pfaender (Pewaukee, Wis./Arrowhead H.S.) and Kelly Voigt (Palatine, Ill./Fremd H.S.) each shot 83s.  Jessica O’Brien (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton H.S.) opened with an 89 to round out the Valpo lineup.

Valparaiso will return to the links on Sunday morning for the final round of play.  Action begins at 9 a.m.