GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The 13th-ranked LSU women’s golf team posted a school record single round of even par 288 to move from seventh to third after the second round of the SunTrust Lady Gator Invitational here Saturday at the University of Florida Golf Course.
LSU has a 36-hole total of 17-over par 593 with one day to play. Auburn, after a second round 2-over 290, continues to lead with a 6-over 582, three-shots in front of Georgia at 585 (9 over). The Bulldogs are eight shots ahead of LSU in third with the Tigers one stroke in front of Tennessee at 18-over 594.
The Tigers 288 round beats the former best aggregate round of 289 shot on the same course in the second round of the 1998 Lady Gator. However, that course was played as a par 70 as one par 5 was played as a par 3 because of flooding, making the 289 score a 9-over par total. The previous best aggregate score on a par-72 course was 2-over 290 on four occasions, including the second round of the 1996 Lady Gator.
“The girls really played great,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “We didn’t get the putts to drop on Friday, but we played really good golf. That continued (Saturday), but the putts began to drop and things began to happen. Auburn and Georgia are playing very well, but we like our position going into the final round.”
Redmond, Wash., senior Lesley McClurg came up with an LSU career round of 3-under 69, while Shreveport junior Meredith Duncan and South Bend, Ind., senior Katy Harris matched scores for the second straight day with even par 72s. The scoring for the team was rounded out by Brazil freshman Isabel Dornellas with a 3-over 75.
McClurg’s 36-hole total of 2-over 146 (77-69) is in a group tied for eighth, while Duncan and Harris are tied for 10th at 3-over 147. Summer Sirmons of Georgia is the individual leader at 2-under 142 after rounds of 73-69.
The 593 36-hole total is tied for the 10th best total in LSU women’s golf history.
The final round is set for Sunday morning at the course which will also be the site of the 2001 Southeastern Conference Women’s Golf Championships later in April.
SUN TRUST LADY GATOR INVITATIONAL
Gainesville, Fla.
36-Hole Team Results (Par 288-576)
1. Auburn 292-290 – 582 +6; 2. Georgia 293-292 – 585 +9; 3. LSU 305-288 – 593 +17; 4. Tennessee 297-297 – 594 +18; 5. Florida State 304-296 – 600 +24; 6. Alabama 294-307 – 601 +25; 7. Vanderbilt 305-300 – 605 +29; 8. South Florida 311-297 – 608 +32; 9. Central Florida 302-308 – 610 +34; 10. North Carolina 308-305 – 613 +37; 10. South Carolina 309-304 – 613 +37; 10. Ole Miss 312-301 – 613 +37; 13. Florida 311-307 – 618 +42; 13. Mississippi State 314-304 – 618 +42; 15. Kentucky 325-297 – 622 +46; 16. Arkansas 310-315 – 625 +49; 17. Wake Forest 318-311 – 629 +53.
Individual Top 5 (Par 72-144)
1. Summer Sirmons, Georgia, 73-69 – 142 -2; 2. Laura Henderson, Georgia, 72-71 – 143 -1; 3. Diana Ramage, Auburn, 75-69 – 144 E; 3. Reilley Rankin, Georgia, 70-74 – 144 E; 5. Young-A Yang, Tennessee, 76-69 – 145 +1; 5. Courtney Swaim, Auburn, 73-72 – 145 +1; 5. Celeste Troche, Auburn, 72-73 – 145 +1.
LSU Scores
T8. Lesley McClurg 77-69 – 146 +2
T10. Meredith Duncan 75-72 – 147 +3
T10. Katy Harris 75-72 – 147 +3
T38. Isabel Dornellas 78-75 – 153 +9
T59. Lindy Hitdlebaugh 78-79 – 157 +13