BATON ROUGE — It took a strong effort by LSU’s fifth player to help put the ninth-ranked LSU Tigers in to the lead after the first round Friday of the LSU/Cleveland Golf Classic at the school’s University Club.
The first-day of play in the tournament’s first trip to the 20-month old course saw scores rise rapidly in the afternoon as players were forced to deal with escalating 10-to-20 MPH winds gusting through the open areas of the venue.
But Lindy Hitdlebaugh, a sophomore from Gretna, showed that she was having no problem with the conditions, firing a 2-over par 74 on the 6,200-yard layout. The round was her lowest of the spring and equaled her lowest of the season. It proved to be a big help in the five play, count four scores format when junior Katy Wilkinson posted an 82, which allowed her score to be thrown out of the team total.
The Tigers ended up shooting eight-over par on both nines and finished the first round of the 54-hole event at 16-over par 304, four shots better then South Florida at 20-over 308. Arkansas and SMU, playing with just four players, are tied for third at 310.
Kelly Martin of South Florida is the individual leader in the competition, posting an even-par round of 72 on the day, while Hitdlebaugh’s score is good enough for a second place tie with Tulane’s Kathy Schafer at 74. Schafer and her Wave team stands in fifth at 312, eight shots out of the LSU lead.
“The girls were a little tight coming out,” said LSU Karen Bahnsen after the round. “They really want to win this first tournament on their home course. The conditions were a factor out there, no doubt, but all the teams had to play it. It was certainly tough and you had to grind it home and focus on every shot you make.”
Shreveport sophomore Meredith Duncan of LSU is in a group tied for sixth at four-over 76 as she goes for her fourth consecutive top 10 finish, while Kenner senior Lisette Lee and New Zealand sophomore Tina Howard are in a group in 11th place.
LSU, trying to win its own tournament for the first time since 1998, will tee off in the final groupings of the second round Saturday at 9:33 a.m. Admission to the University Club is free.
LSU/Cleveland Golf Classic
University Club — Baton Rouge
Team Totals (Par 288)
1. LSU 304 +16
2. South Florida 308 +20
3. Arkansas 310 +22
3. SMU 310 +22
5. Tulane 312 +24
6. Alabama 313 +25
7. Mississippi State 314 +26
8. North Carolina Wilmington 318 +30
8. Ole Miss 318 +30
10. North Texas 321 +33
11. Arkansas-Little Rock 322 +34
12. Memphis 324 +36
Indivdiual Top 25 Totals (Par 72)
1. Kelly Martin, South Florida 72 E
2. Kathy Schafer, Tulane 74 +2
2. Lindy Hitdlebaugh, LSU 74 +2
4. Heather McMunn, UNCW 75 +3
4. Marci Kornegay, Ole Miss 75 +3
6. Paula Carter, Alabama 76 +4
6. Meredith Duncan, LSU 76 +4
6. Ashley Mitchell, SMU 76 +4
6. Vanessa Bell, Alabama 76 +4
6. Jessica Hayes, South Florida 76 +4
11. Lisette Lee, LSU 77 +5
11. Danielle Netschi, SMU 77 +5
11. Kristy Kortuem, Arkansas 77 +5
11. Cecilia Slodin, North Texas 77 +5
11. Theresa Brown, Ole Miss 77 +5
11. Tina Howard, LSU 77 +5
11. Kellie King, SMU 77 +5
11. Lauren Baugh, Arkansas 77 +5
11. Christina Baugh, SMU 77 +5
20. Sarah Johnston, Alabama 78 +6
20. Marcela Gonzalez, Tulane 78 +6
20. Adrienne Mucci, Arkansas 78 +6
20. Tamy Saran, UALR 78 +6
20. Johanna Danielsson, Arkansas 78 +6
20. Pia Josefsson, Mississippi St. 78 +6
LSU Scores
t2. Lindy Hitdlebaugh 74 +2
t6. Meredith Duncan 76 +4
t11. Lisette Lee 77 +5
t11. Tina Howard 77 +5
t30. Rebecca Barrow 80 +8
t44. Katy Wilkinson 82 +10
t60 Erin Sarver 85 +13
t64 Missy Ballew 87 +15
(Note: Barrow, Sarver, Ballew were playing as indivdiual entries.)