GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The eighth-ranked LSU women’s golf team moved up two spots on the final day to record its highest finish of the year, taking home third Sunday in the Sun Trust Lady Gator Invitational at the University of Florida Golf Course.
In the process, Shreveport sophomore Meredith Duncan recorded her third top 10 finish of the season , finishing in a tie for 10th at 10-over par 226.
LSU posted its second consecutive round of 304 to finish the 54-hole event at 920, 56-strokes over par. It was host Florida who blew past the field on the final day, posting a one-over par score of 289 to finish at 40-over 904 and win the championship.
South Carolina was second at 919, one stroke better than the Tigers. Auburn was fourth after leading the first two days of the competition.
LSU’s 304 round was the second best of the day next to Florida’s incredible round.
Duncan finished at 10-over 226 after shooting a 2-over 74 on the final day to go with rounds of 77 and 75.
Furman’s Jennifer Perri went wire-to-wire to win the competition with a 2-over par 54-hole total of 218 (69-72-77).
LSU sophomore Tina Howard from New Zealand, making her season debut, and Kenner senior Lisette Lee, tied for 16th place with both shooting 14-over 230. Howard had rounds of 77-78-75 and Lee had scores of 80-74-76. LSU’s other counting score on Sunday was a 79 from Gretna sophomore Lindy Hitdlebaugh.
“I’m very pleased with the way we came out of the long break to open the spring season,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “This is a great start against a good field and will show us the things we need to work on to get better. We have a couple of weeks off and will go out to the University Club and work on a few things we need to improve.”
LSU is next in action March 17-19 at the Lady Gamecock Classic in Columbia, S.C.
Team Results (Par 288-864)
1. Florida 306-309-289 — 904 +40; 2. South Carolina 313-301-305 — 919 +55; 3. LSU 312-304-304 — 920 +56; 4. Auburn 300-309-312 — 921 +57; 5. Furman 312-303-310 — 925 +61; 6. Alabama 305-312-310 — 927 +63; 7. Central Florida 307-310-311 — 928 +64; 8. South Florida 316-310-307 — 933 +69; 9. Mississippi 316-313-309 — 938 +74; 10. Mississippi State 318-317-305 — 940 +76; 11. Vanderbilt 320-319-307 — 946 +82; 11. Arkansas 317-305-324 — 946 +82; 13. Florida State 321-316 -315 — 952 +88; 14. Miami 324-315-322 — 961 +97; 15. Kentucky 331-325-317 — 974 +109.
Individual Results (Par 72-216) 1. Jennifer Perri, Furman, 69-72-77 — 218 +2; 2. Kristy McPherson, S. Carolina, 72-74-73 — 219 +3; 3. Brittany Straza, Florida, 73-72-72 — 221 +5; 3. Monica Gundersrud, Central Florida, 74-72-75 — 221 +5; 5. Paula Marti, Florida, 76-77-669 — 222 +6.
LSU Results
10 Meredith Duncan 77-75-74 — 226 +10
t16. Tina Howard 77-78-75 — 230 +14
t16. Lisette Lee 80-74-76 — 230 +14
t31. Katy Wilkinson 78-77-81 — 236 +20
t58. Lindy Hitdlebaugh 86-78-79 -243 + 27