ATHENS, Ga. — LSU’s ninth-ranked women’s golf team continued its strong play of late as the Lady Tigers fired a 5-over 297 to stand in second place after the first round of the 28th annual Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic here at the University of Georgia Golf Course.
Duke, behind a tournament and course record round of 6-under 67 by Beth Bauer, stands atop the team leader board with an 18-hole total of 1-under 291. Bauer’s 67 tied the previous course mark set by Beth Daniel in 1976.
Two weeks ago at the South Carolina Lady Gamecock Classic, Duke and LSU finished first and second, respectively.
Rounding out the top 10 in the team competition at the Liz Murphey are Auburn in third place at 299, followed by host Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas at in a tie for fourth place at 300, Wake Forest in seventh place at 301, Alabama in eighth at 309 and South Carolina and Ole Miss tied for ninth at 310.
Individually for the Lady Tigers, Lisette Lee continued her solid play this spring as the senior from Kenner, La., fired a 3-under 70 to stand in second place, just three strokes behind Bauer. Lee, who is ranked No. 15 in the nation in the latest Sagarin/Golf Week poll, is tied for second place with Danielle Downey of Auburn and Angela Jerman of Georgia. Two weeks ago, Lee recorded her second career individual title with a 54-hole total of 4-over 220 at the South Carolina Lady Gamecock Classic.
LSU’s Tina Howard carded a 1-over 74 over the first 18 holes to stand in a tie for 11th place, while Meredith Duncan is two strokes back in a tie for 26th place with a 3-over 76. Katy Wilkinson is tied for 35th place with a 4-over 77.
Rebecca Barrow, a freshman who is making her first start of the spring season, posted an 87 to round out the scoring for the Lady Tigers.
The tournament continues with 18 holes on Saturday followed by the final 18 holes on Sunday.