The Campus Runaways are very much still in the race.

Sweden’s Linn Grant and Maja Stark combined for a 7-under 63 Friday in the second round of the Dow Championship at Midland Country Club, vaulting the duo to 9-under 131 through 36 holes at the midway point of the 72-hole team stroke-play event.

The pair went bogey-free with five birdies and an eagle, doing their best work when it mattered most — covering each other hole by hole like the seasoned teammates they are.

“I feel like I started kind of hot and then I got very cold and then Linn took over,” Stark said. “So felt like it was good timing. Didn’t have any bogeys today.”

Grant and Stark began on the back nine, trading pars until the 11th. After Stark birdied No. 11, they both birdied the par-4 12th—where Grant stuck her approach, and Stark drained the ensuing putt, a moment Grant jokingly claimed her own. Those back-to-back birdies moved them to 4-under, and another birdie on 17 sent them to the turn at 5-under 32.

The front nine is where the day truly ignited. After a birdie at the par-4 second hole, the Campus Runaways rolled in an eagle at the par-5 third to jump to 8-under in the tournament. Stark’s birdie putt on the eighth sealed a bogey-free 31 on the front side, and the team posted a 63 to stand at 9-under 131 overall.

“We were trying to keep to the plan that we said yesterday, to have two balls in play, two balls on the green,” Grant said. “I feel like today we played more like when I was off Maja was there and when Maja was off, I was there. It worked out.”

The Swedes trail leaders Polly Mack and Celine Borge by three shots heading into the weekend. But Grant and Stark, both 26-year-old who grew up competing together in European team events, have been preparing for moments exactly like this.

“We’ve had so much practice together,” Grant said. “For some reason we still ended up together all the time. I pretty much know what she will do if she misses, I know that she can get up and down from anywhere.”

The Dow Championship offers no Rolex Rankings points, but a victory Sunday does count as an official LPGA Tour win. Grant captured The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican in 2025 for her second Tour title, while Stark claimed the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open presented by Ally for hers. Both players know exactly what winning looks like — and with 36 holes remaining, they’re in prime position to add another.

“We’re just here to have fun,” Stark said. “One of us will hit a bad shot and we can immediately joke about it. It’s just really nice and relaxed.”

The final two rounds of the Dow Championship will be held Saturday (foursomes) and Sunday (four-ball) at Midland Country Club.

Grant, Stark Post Blistering 63 to Keep Campus Runaways in Dow Championship Hunt

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