WAVERLY -- Methodist University has started to distance itself from the field at the Division III women's golf championships.

The Monarchs, gunning for their 11th straight national title, opened up a 13-stroke lead over second-place Southwestern University on Wednesday at Centennial Oaks Golf Club.

Paced by individual leader Susan Martin, who birdied three of the first six holes en route to a second-round 72, Methodist shot a 309 Â-- 11 strokes better than Southwestern.

Wartburg, meanwhile, improved its position by a spot from seventh to sixth place in the 20-team field. The Knights, whose best finish ever is fourth at nationals, trail third-place DePauw by only nine strokes, 635-644, with two rounds remaining.

Kate Thompson posted her second consecutive 77 and is in a tie for eighth. Thompson had 13 pars on her round and a birdie at the par-5 sixth.

Cedar Falls alum Steph Burns, who was the Iowa Conference medalist last fall, also carded a 77 and is in 20th after two rounds at 157. Burns had birdies at the par-4 ninth and par-4 12th.

Jordan Galles also had an 83 for the Knights on Wednesday, while Daina Deery followed up her first-round 82 with an 85.

The 72-hole tournament continues today with the third round.

TEAM STANDINGS - 1. Methodist University 307-309 - 616; 2. Southwestern University 309-320 - 629; 3. DePauw University 315-320 - 635; 4. Otterbein College 317-320 - 637; 5. St. Thomas 321-318 - 639; 6. Wartburg College 322-322 - 644; 7. Gustavus Adolphus 323-323 - 646; T8. Illinois Wesleyan 317-330 - 647; T8. Allegheny 331-316 - 647; 10. Williams College 326-323 - 649; 11. Olivet College 334-324 - 658; 12. Middlebury 337-328 - 665; 13. Wisconsin-Stevens Point 336-330 - 666; 14. Wisconsin-Eau Claire 333-334 - 667; 15. McMurry University 345-325 - 670; 16. St. Lawrence 340-331 - 671; 17. Mount Holyoke College 343-333 - 676; 18. Pacific University 349-337 - 686; 19. Franklin College 349-348 - 697; 20. Illinois College 366-355 - 721.

TOP INDIVIDUALS - 1. Susan Martin (Methodist) 74-72 - 146; 2. Stephanie Mingos (Rhodes) 71-76 - 147; 3. Kimberly Eaton (Wellesley) 75-73 - 148; 4. Jessica Urban (Wisconsin-Stevens Point) 76-74 - 150; 5. Ali Murtaugh (DePauw) 75-76 - 151.

WARTBURG (644) - T8. Kate Thompson 77-77 - 154; 20. Steph Burns 80-77 - 157; T54. Jordan Galles 83-83 - 166; T61. Daina Deery 82-85 - 167; 93. Rebecca Lewis 87-90 - 177.