KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The ninth-ranked LSU women’s golf team remained in fourth place after two rounds of the Mercedes-Benz Women’s Golf Championships, but LSU’s Meredith Duncan moved to a tie for first in the individual competition after the second round Saturday.
Duncan, the junior from Shreveport, is tied for the individual lead at even-par 144 after shooting a second round of 1-under par 71. That combines with a 1-over 73 in the first round on Friday. She is tied with Christie Hermes of Northwestern who has recorded back-to-back even-par rounds of 72.
LSU followed Friday’s 304 round with a 17-over 305 and stands at 33-over par 609 after 36 holes. Duke continues to lead at 21-over par 597 after rounds of 300 and 297, two shots better than Tennessee at 599. Northwestern is in third ahead of LSU at 25 over 601. Purdue is the first team after LSU at 33-over par 613.
Duncan is looking for her first individual collegiate title. The honorable mention All-American and Hermes are two strokes clear of three golfers entering the final 18 holes on Sunday.
“Meredith had an outstanding day and so did the team,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “We can shoot lower, but we continued to focus hard on every shot and work to grind out a score. We’ve put ourselves in position for a very good finish if we can continue to focus for another 18 holes.”
LSU has two other golfers in the top 20, with Lindy Hitdlebaugh putting a 77 with Friday’s 76 for a two day total of 9-over 15, putting her in a tie for 15th place. Katy Harris had a 4-over 76 on Saturday and her 154 total stands in a group tied for 20th place. Lesley McClurg had the other counting score on Saturday of 81.
The tournament concludes on Sunday morning with the final 18 holes.
Mercedes-Benz Women’s Championship
At Knoxville, Tenn.
Team Results (Par 288-576)
1. Duke 300-297 — 597 +21; 2. Tennessee 302-297 — 599 +23; 3. Northwestern 308-293 — 601 +25; 4. LSU 304-305 — 609 +33; 5. Purdue 303-310 — 613 +37; 6. Swedish Jr. National 307-312 — 619 +43; 7. TCU 311-310 — 621 +45; 8. Vanderbilt 318-307 — 625 +49; 9. New Mexico State 314-313 — 627 +51; 10. North Carolina 323-308 — 631 +55; 11. Mississippi State 319-314 — 633 +57; 12. Furman 324-316 — 640 +64; 13. Arkansas 326-315 — 641 +65; 14. Kentucky 325-322 — 647 +71; 15. Ole Miss 331-319 — 650 +74.
Individual Top 5 (Par 72-144)
1. Meredith Duncan, LSU, 73-71 — 144 E; 1. Christie Hermes, Northwestern, 72-72 — 144 E; 3. Candy Hannemann, Duke, 73-73 — 146 +2; Young-A Yang, Tennessee, 73-73 — 146 +2; V. Nirapathpongporn, Duke, 76-70 — 146 +2.
LSU Results
t1. Meredith Duncan 73-71 — 144
t15. Lindy Hitdlebaugh 76-77 — 153
t20. Katy Harris 78-76 — 154
t36. Lesley McClurg 77-81 — 158
73. Devon Day 88-84 — 172