Low scores came in by the handful during the first round of the IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort and Spa, but it was a different story in round two. The Champions Course at Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon fought back on day two, with help from the wind, rain, and cold temperatures. The day's low round was a 5-under 68, turned in by Erika Hara, who moved herself into the final grouping. Even with the more difficult conditions, first-round leader Hailee Cooper posted a 1-under 71 to maintain the lead.

Cooper will enter the final round with a 1-shot lead over Erika Hara and a 2-shot lead over Sophia Schubert, Minori Nagano, Briana Chacon, and Riley Smyth as she tries to get her hands on her first career Epson Tour trophy. Three of the four athletes that are T3 are past champions on the Epson Tour, applying even more pressure to the Texas native.

The second round for Cooper was going as planned, sitting at 3-under through 14 holes of play. At the time, the 25-year-old pushed the lead to 10-under and a 5-shot lead. With only one bogey over her first 32 holes, Cooper's game was firing on all cylinders – until it wasn't. Cooper stumbled coming down the stretch on day two, making three straight bogeys on six, seven, and eight. The stretch brought competitors who seemed out of the tournament back into the fray.

However, Cooper did end her round on a high note, reaching the par 5 ninth in two shots, setting up a two-putt birdie to end her day.

"I started off really well. I think I was three under through 12 or something. Then the wind kind of gusted up a little bit," explained Cooper. "Greens kind of got firm and I didn't adjust very well. Putting was still pretty good. I missed two shorties I should have made. But overall, it was a good day. I was just kind of staying consistent and trying to stay patient. It's hard after having a great day like yesterday and then coming out and trying to repeat that."

Hara turned in the round of the day and possibly the tournament given the conditions. The 26-year-old had two eagles during her second round, helping her make the big move up the leaderboard. She added three birdies and two bogeys to the card before the end of the day as she looks for her first professional win in the United States. Hara has won five times in her home country of Japan on the LPGA of Japan Tour (JLPGA) and will try to add another trophy to her collection when play on Sunday has concluded.

Cooper Maintains Lead After 36 Holes of Play While in Search of First Epson Tour Victory

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