AUBURN, Ala. — The eighth-ranked LSU women’s golf team posted a 15-over par 303 in the opening round of the fall season and stands in third place after the opening round of the Auburn Tiger-Derby Invitational Friday at the University Club.
The Tigers’ score is six strokes behind the lead of host Auburn and Mississippi State which fired a nine-over par 297 on the par 72 course. LSU is two shots better than South Florida at 305 in fourth, with UNC Wilmington fifth at 306 and Central Florida and Vanderbilt are tied for sixth in the 12-team field at 307.
LSU posted four good scores in the 70s in the opening round, paced by the two-over 74 of Shreveport junior Meredith Duncan. Duncan is in a group tied for sixth, three strokes out of the lead held jointly by Courtney Swaim of Auburn and Anna Gertsson of Mississippi State. Duncan was the team leader in stroke average a year ago at 75.32 strokes per round in earning honorable mention All-America status.
Seniors Katy Harris (South Bend, Ind.), and Lesley McClurg (Redmond, Wash.), each shot four-over 76s to tie in a group for 16th place and Gretna junior Lindy Hitdlebaugh had the last counting score at five-over 77 (tied for 24th). For McClurg, it was her first competitive college round in over a year as she redshirted all of last season with an injury.
“It was a good start for us,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “We’re in a good position and being able to get four scores in the 70s the first time out is good. We need to continue to focus in and try to improve and see if we can narrow the gap after Saturday’s round.”
LSU will be paired with Auburn and Mississippi State in the second round, which is scheduled to begin at 9:39 a.m. on the first-year campus tournament site. The event runs through Sunday.
Auburn Tiger-Derby Invitational
Team Results (Par 288)
1. Auburn, Mississippi State 297 +9; 3. LSU 303 +15; 4. South Florida 305 +17; 5. North Carolina Wilmington 306 +18; 6. Central Florida, Vanderbilt 307 +19; 8. Florida State 313 +25; 9. Alabama, Ole Miss 316 +28; 10. Tulane 321 +33; 12. Georgia State 336 +48.
Individual Top 5 (Par 72)
1. Courtney Swaim, Auburn, 36-35 – 71 -1; 1. Anna Gertsson, Miss. St., 33-38 – 71 -1; 3. Lina Thoren, Miss. St., 36-37 – 73 +1; 3. Rebecca Dean, NC Wilmington, 39-34 – 73 +1; Fanny Schaeffer, S. Florida, 36-37 – 73 +1.
LSU Results
t6. Meredith Duncan 36-38 – 74 +2
t16. Katy Harris 40-36 – 76 +4
t16. Lesley McClurg 38-38 – 76 +4
t24. Lindy Hitdlebaugh 41-36 – 77 +5
t57. Tina Howard 46-38 – 84 +12
t62. Devon Day 42-44 – 86 +14