BATON ROUGE – The battle between nationally-ranked women’s golf teams intensified Saturday in the second round of the LSU/Cleveland Golf Classic with virtually nothing decided going into Sunday’s final round.
LSU, the nation’s 12th-ranked team in the Golfweek/Sagarin Performance Index, posted a school record score of 2-under par 286 on the second day of the 54-hole event to grab a one-shot lead over the 5th-ranked Auburn Tigers.
Auburn’s round was nothing to sneeze as those Tigers had a 1-over round of 289 and stands at just 6-over 582.
How good were LSU and Auburn’ Both teams demolished the all-time 20-year single round tournament record of 290 set by Arizona with then freshman All-American Marisa Baena on it in 1996 at the Fairwood Country Club.
The two teams also smashed the 36-hole mark of 588 set by the Wildcats in 1996.
“What can I say but the girls really put it together,” said LSU coach Karen Bahnsen. “The best thing about these two days and the last round in Hawaii is that someone has been stepping up when we needed a good score and that shows how this team is beginning to blend together and understand that each day is a new day and a new chance to score.
Five-over after 36 holes is fabulous. There is no way to predict what might happen Sunday, but I know this, those who come out will see some fabulous college golf.”
The two will be paired together along with the nation’s seventh-ranked team, Georgia (third place at 20-over 596), in the final round, which begins at 8 a.m. The LSU, Auburn, Georgia groups will begin teeing off at 8:45 a.m. Admission to the University Club for spectators is free.
“It was a good day,” said Auburn head coach Kim Evans. “I kind of did not know what to expect. Ann (Hutto) had an upset stomach and Celeste (Troche) had a sore throat. I was out there handing out aspirin and all kinds of stuff. But they played very well. We are going to come out (Sunday) with a commitment to play one hole at a time-and that is all we can do.”
With the prevailing wind blowing a little softer, the hot conditions send scores falling for nine of the 11 teams as the stroke average for the 62-player field fell over 1 1/2 strokes from the day before. Five players broke par, including all three players who are tied for the 36-hole lead.
LSU senior Katy Harris put herself in position to play for a title with a solid 2-under round of 70, giving her a two-day total of 1-under 143.
She is tied with Sarah Johnston of Alabama and Courtney Swaim of Auburn, who both had 1-under 71s to follow even par 72 rounds.
Harris had her round to 4-under at one point after birdies at 10 and 11 to open the back nine.
“I played solidly,” Harris, who finished second in this tournament as a freshman, said. “I hit the ball really well. I am very happy with where I am now. It is great to play on your home course. We have to come out (Sunday) and take it one shot at a time and stay focused on what we are doing.”
Johnston would like to be a winner for the Tide, playing in her home state, having grown up in Benton.
“I just played steady,” said the Tide senior. “I just had a bunch of pars. If I can just keep playing the way I have been, just keep it even, nothing spectacular, then I will do well (Sunday).”
Reilley Rankin of Georgia after a four-under 68 and Celeste Troche of Auburn are tied for fourth at even par 144. Rankin had the 1992 tournament record of 66 in her sights after getting to 6-under with two holes to play, but she bogeyed 17 and 18 to finish at 4-under.
Besides Harris’ 2-under round, LSU counted another 2-under 70 from Lindy Hitdlebaugh, a 1-under 71 from Meredith Duncan and a 75 from freshman Isabel Dornellas. It was Hitdlebaugh’s second sub-par round in as many weeks for the Tigers and Duncan is not to be counted out of the individual race at 2-over 146 for 36 holes.
This is the final regular season tournament of the season for LSU and this may just be a prelude for the Southeastern Conference Championships set for Gainesville later this month.