GREENSBORO, NC (theACC.com) – The No. 8 Wake Forest women’s golf team carded a round of 296 on Saturday and took what was a nine-shot lead to start the day and widened it to 17-shots through 36 holes of the 2009 ACC Women’s Golf Championship at Sedgefield Country Club.

The Demon Deacons are in search of their first ACC Team Title since it won back-to-back titles in 1994 and 1995.

Wake Forest was led by Nannette Hill’s 2-over 73 and Natalie Sheary’s 3-over 74. Sheary, who fired a course record 66 in the first round on Friday, birdied the final hole of the day to take a one-shot lead in the individual race heading into Sunday’s final round.

“It wasn’t as easy for us as it was yesterday but the students really hung in there well and made some birdies coming in and that really helped us out a lot because we would have been in a big hole other wise,” said Wake Forest head coach Dianne Dailey. “Everyone had a few bad holes out there but they hung in there and that’s what we’re going to have to do tomorrow. It’s going to be a shootout tomorrow with any team having the ability to go low.”

Duke senior Amanda Blumenherst fired the round of the day, a 3-under 68, which included five birdies. She started the day tied for fifth after a round of 2-over 73 on Friday but vaulted to within one-shot of Sheary at 1-under par.

Blumenherst is looking to become the first female golfer to win four-straight ACC individual titles.

“I was happy with today’s round,” said Blumenherst. “I kept my driver in play and I had a really good feel around the greens, leaving myself tap-ins for par, so that always helps. Tomorrow should be great. I’m really looking forward to it and I know the team is as well. We’re going to be patient and take it one hole at a time.”

As a team, Duke is trying to win its 14th-straight team title but will start the final round 17-shots behind Wake Forest.

In addition to Blumenherst, Jennie Lee added a round of 1-under 70 on Saturday and is currently in third place with a round to play.

NC State got an even-par round from Lauren Doughtie and rounds of 73 from Kathleen Strandberg and Emily Street to jump into third place after a round of 298.

Virginia is in fourth place through 36 holes, paced by Calle Nielson, who is currently in fifth place at 2-over par.

North Carolina is a shot behind Virginia at 38-over par. The Tar Heels will start Sunday’s round in fifth place. Florida State is sixth followed by Maryland in seventh, Boston College in eighth and Miami in ninth.

Tee times were moved up one half hour Sunday morning, meaning Miami, Boston College and Maryland will get the final round underway at 8:00 a.m. Florida State, North Carolina and Virginia will be in the second wave beginning at 8:50 a.m., and Wake Forest, Duke and NC State will be in the final pairing at 9:40 a.m.

The championship is free and open to the public.