HONOLULU — The 12th-ranked Lady Tigers finished with their best round of the week and moved up to third place in the final standings of the 16th annual Dr. Donnis Thompson Rainbow Wahine Invitational Golf Tournament here Thursday at the Olomana Golf Links.
LSU posted a 7-over round of 295 in the gentle trade winds and advanced from fourth to third on the final day of the 54-hole event. That’s the same finishing position when the Tigers last participated in this same tournament over a different course in 1998.
LSU finished with a three-day total score of 900, improving each day with rounds of 304-301-295. LSU’s score of 36-over par was just five shots behind winner Oklahoma State at 895. OSU had the day’s best round of 6-over 294 and moved past Arizona to take the championship. Arizona, which had a seven-shot advantage over OSU and 11 over LSU entering the final round, ballooned to a 304 total and finished in second, two shots ahead of LSU at 898. LSU’s 900 total was 10 shots better than fourth place Oklahoma. TCU, at 911, was fifth.
Tiger senior Katy Harris, second here in 1998, had her second consecutive top three finish, taking third on the heels of her second place finish in her last start in South Carolina.
Harris put together an even par round of 72 to follow with back-to-back 1-over 73s to finish at 2-over 218. It was Harris’ 25th career LSU round of par or better and her 17th consecutive top 10 finish at LSU. Her 17 top 10s is fourth on the LSU career list all-time in women’s golf.
Harris finished two shots behind leader Natalie Gulbis of Arizona, who came in on the final day with 2-over 74 and a three-day total of even par 216. Christi Cano of the first-place Oklahoma State team finished in second at 1-over 217.
The big round for LSU on the final day came from Gretna junior Lindy Hitdlebaugh as she followed rounds of 79 and 77 with her first under-par round of her LSU career, a 1-under 71. That put her at 11-over 227 and in a tie for 13th place. LSU also on the final day counted a 75 from senior Lesley McClurg and a 77 from freshman Isabel Dornellas. Dornellas finished in a tie for 18th place (13-over 229) and McClurg tied for 21st (14-over 230). Meredith Duncan posted a 79 on the final day and finished in a tie for 26th (16-over 232).
“This was a very good tournament for us,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “This has been a wonderful week for the girls and I think the girls handled the trade winds here better than a lot of the teams did. We seemed to be used to that and knew how to adapt and it paid off. Now we will go home and get ready for what we think will be a very exciting week for us at the University Club.”
The Tigers will face top 10-ranked and conference rivals Auburn and Georgia next week in the 20th annual LSU/Cleveland Golf Classic at the University Club in Baton Rouge. LSU won the inaugural event at the school’s home course a year ago. The tournament is set for Friday through Sunday, April 6-8, and admission is free of charge.
Dr. Donnis Thompson Rainbow Wahine Invitational
Olomona Golf Links — Honolulu, Hawaii
Team Results (Par 288-864)
1. Oklahoma State 303-298-294 — 895 +31; 2. Arizona 300-294-304 — 898 +34; 3. LSU 304-301-295 — 900 +36; 4. Oklahoma 304-300-306 — 910 +46; 5. TCU 302-310-299 — 911 +47; 6. Oregon State 299-307-313 — 919 +55; 6. BYU 304-307-308 — 919 +55; 8. Colorado State 305-312-313 — 930 +66; 9. Minnesota 309-309-315 — 933 +69; 10. Colorado 305-311-322 — 938 +74; 11. Weber State 314-321-319 — 954 +90; 12. UTEP 322-320-320 — 962 +98; 13. Hawaii 324-326-315 — 965 +101; 14. Wichita State 327-319-327 — 973 +109; 15. Wyoming 327-334-327 — 988 +124; 16. Cincinnati 329-339-321 — 989 +125; 17. Montana State 336-327-337 — 1000 +136; 18. Osaka Gakuin 333-350-341 — 1024 +160.
Individual Top 5 (Par 72-216)
1. Natalie Gulbis, Arizona, 71-71-74 — 216 E; 2. Christi Cano, Oklahoma State, 71-71-75 — 217 +1; 3. Katy Harris, LSU, 73-73-72 — 218 +2; 4. Lisa Meldrum 74-74-72 — 220 +4; 5. Laura Myerscough 75-71-76 — 222 +6.
LSU Scores
3. Katy Harris 73-73-72 — 218 +2
T13. Lindy Hitdlebaugh 79-77-71 — 227 +11
T18. Isabel Dornellas 76-76-77 — 229 +13
T21. Lesley McClurg 80-75-75 — 230 +14
T26. Meredith Duncan 76-77-79 — 232 +16