Lead Slips Away From LCU

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. - Moving day saw all but one team among the top 10 shift in position at the 2011 NAIA Women's Golf National Championships at Link Hills Country Club on Thursday. Embry-Riddle (Fla.) moved into the lead after firing a 315 in the Third Round for a total of 943. The Eagles hold a two-stroke advantage on California Baptist, who entered the round tied for fourth. Posting a low round of 312, the Lancers have combined for a 319-314-312--945. Oklahoma City's round of 314 lifted the Stars from sixth into a tie for third with Shorter (Ga.) at 950. Lubbock Christian's (Texas) one-stroke lead after the Second Round dissolved with a 324 outing to drop back to fifth with a three-day total of 951.

Defending national champion Nathalie Silva of California Baptist posted her second-consecutive even round to move into a tie for the individual lead at 4-over-par 222 with British Columbia's Kylie Barros. Silva's even rounds come after opening with a 3-over-par 76, while Barros opened at par and followed with 1-over and 2-over performances. The duo finished one-two at the 2010 event and were separated by two shots heading into the Final Round.

Danielle Bellet of Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) moved into sole possession of third place by shooting a 75 after starting the round tied for fourth. She is three strokes ahead of Bethel's (Ind.) Kaelyn Lingenfelter and Fabys Barreto-Guzman of Embry-Riddle, who are deadlocked at fourth with 229s. Lingenfelter, who began the day tied for 12th, rebounded from an 8-over-par 81 in the Second Round by carding a 74 in the Third Round. In comparison, Barreto-Guzman followed up an even-round showing in the Second Round with a 78.

The final 18 holes of action at Link Hills Country Club will take off from No. 1 Friday at 7:30 a.m. EDT with Northwood (Texas), South Carolina - Beaufort and Lindenwood (Mo.). Wayland Baptist (Texas), Tennessee Wesleyan and Ashford (Iowa) will start their final round on the back nine at 8 a.m.

The top-three teams of Embry-Riddle, California Baptist and Oklahoma City will be the final group off of No. 1, taking to the tee box at 1:50 p.m.