Burlington, N.C. – Western Carolina junior Elsa Maren Steinarsdóttir overcame a slow start Monday and surged into the individual lead after 36 holes at the Elon Women's Invitational at the par-71, 6,225-yard Alamance Country Club.
 
After sitting at 3-over par through her first four holes of the tournament, the Akranes, Iceland, native turned her day around in impressive fashion. Steinarsdóttir birdied four of her final nine holes in the opening round to card a 1-under-par 70, then followed with a 3-under-par 68 in the second round. Her 36-hole total of 138 (-4) gives her a two-shot advantage entering Tuesday's final round.
 
Steinarsdóttir offset her only bogey of the second round with four birdies and enters the tournament finale atop the individual leaderboard.
 
Behind Steinarsdóttir, freshman Kelsey Haverluck sits just outside the top 10 in a tie for 12th after posting consecutive rounds of 73. As a team, the Catamounts climbed two spots during the afternoon round and enter Tuesday in fourth place at 583 (+15).
 
The final 18 holes begin with an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start. Western Carolina will be paired with Southern Conference rival Wofford and tournament host Elon.
 
Catamount Notes

• Steinarsdóttir leads the tournament field in par-4 scoring at 3-under par (3.86 average) and ranks second overall with eight birdies through 36 holes.
• Haverluck recorded six birdies on Monday, tied for the fourth-most in the tournament field.
• Junior Annalee Caveney is tied for 21st with a 36-hole score of 148 (+6). Caveney carded five birdies across the two rounds.
• Freshmen Marissa Scaletta and Julia Capellini round out Western Carolina's scoring five. Scaletta is tied for 36th at 151 (+9) after rounds of 77 and 74, highlighted by a closing stretch of 10 consecutive pars in the second round. Capellini is 74th at 163 (+21) and recorded four birdies on the day, including three during the opening round.

Team Standings
Host Elon holds an 11-stroke lead heading into Tuesday's final round after posting team scores of 282 (-2) and 289 to finish the day at 571. Wofford and Howard are tied for second place at 582, one stroke ahead of Western Carolina. William & Mary rounds out the top five at 586.
 
Individual Leaderboard
Steinarsdóttir's 138 (-4) gives her a two-stroke lead over Elon's Lilli Downer (140), while Howard's Paris Fieldings sits third at 141 heading into the final round.
 
Live scoring for Tuesday's final round is available through the Scoreboard app and at CatamountSports.com.
 
For updates throughout the tournament and the latest information on all WCU Athletics programs, follow the Catamounts on Facebook (fb.com/catamountsports; fb.com/catamountwgolf), Instagram (@wcu_catamounts; @catamountwgolf) and X (@Catamounts; @CatamountWGolf).
 
Western Carolina (4th, 583)
1 – Elsa Maren Steinarsdóttir – 70-68 = 138 (-4)
T12 – Kelsey Haverluck – 73-73 = 146 (+4)
T21 – Annalee Caveney – 75-73 = 148 (+6)
T36 – Marissa Scaletta – 77-74 = 151 (+9)
74 – Julia Capellini – 82-81 = 163 (+21)