GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The LSU women’s golf team’s drive for its first SEC Women’s Golf Championship since 1992 took another step forward as the Tigers hold a four-shot lead going to Sunday’s final round, thanks mainly to a school and SEC record 7-under par 65 from senior Katy Harris.
The South Bend, Ind., native had a bogey-free 18 holes to break the school record by three strokes and the SEC Championship record by a stroke. Jenny Lidback (1986), Kristi Coats (1989), Michelle Louviere (1996), Harris (1997, 1998) and Ashley Winn (1998) had all posted previous 4-under rounds for LSU. The previous SEC mark was a 6-under 66 by present Auburn assistant coach Erin O’Neil when she played for Georgia in 1997, also in the second round.
The Tigers followed Friday’s 1-under round with a 1-over 289 to finish 36-holes at even par 576. The Tigers, ranked 12th in the GolfWeek/Sagarin Performance Index, are four in front in of 7th-ranked Georgia. The Bulldogs posted a second straight 2-over 290 to stand at 4-over par 580. South Carolina, making a strong statement in this year’s tournament coming in unranked, is third at 9-over 585.
Harris opened with a routine birdie on the par 4 first, then chipped in from the bunker on No.3 for another. After a birdie on the par 5 fourth, Harris rammed in a 30-footer for birdie at the par-4 fifth and the game was on and so was Harris’ attempt to keep focusing on going low.
“After five, I knew I needed to have a goal set of how low I could go to give me something to keep my focus for the remainder of the round,” said Harris. “I wanted to keep concentrating and pushing forward. I thought about 8-under. I was halfway there. I almost got all the way there.”
Harris birdied the par-5 13th and 16th holes, and then put a shot from the fairway bunker on No. 18 to with in four feet to wrap up the bogey-free round with another birdie. Harris through two rounds, has played the par 4s in 3-under par and the par 5s in 6-under.
“I’ve been playing well the whole semester,” said Harris, who could finish as the single-season stroke average leader at LSU. “I’m confident and would love to have another round like this Sunday to help the team.”
Harris is two-shots back in the individual competition at 5-under 139 after 36 holes, behind first-round leader Kristy McPherson of South Carolina, who took a first-round 67 Friday and added a 2-under 70 for a 7-under 137, an SEC
36-hole best. The two will play together Sunday in the tournament’s final pairing.
Summer Sirmons of Georgia is third at 2-under 142, while LSU’s Meredith Duncan is tied for fourth at 1-under 143 with Celeste Troche of Auburn (70-73) and Laura Henderson of Georgia (69-74).
Duncan finished at even par 72 to go with Friday’s 1-under 72. The other LSU counting scores were a 75 from freshman Isabel Dornellas and a 77 from Lindy Hitdlebaugh.
“Obviously, we wanted to keep shooting strong golf,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “It certainly does help to have a 65 on your side of the score board, but what a spectacular round. The team is really focused and know exactly what we need to do. This is an exciting position for us to be in, but we should be able to handle it. The tournament we won in Baton Rouge did so much for our confidence coming into this event.”
The final round tees off at 8 a.m. EST Sunday and the Tigers, Bulldogs and Gamecocks in the final wave start at 8:50 a.m.
SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIPS
At University of Florida Golf Course — Gainesville, Fla.)
Team Results (Par 288-576)
1. LSU 287-289 — 576 E; 2. Georgia 290-290 — 580 +4; 3. South Carolina 295-290 — 585 +9; 4. Florida 290-303 — 593 +17; 5. Auburn 294-300 — 594 +18; 6. Tennessee 302-293 — 595 +19; 7. Alabama 302-296 — 598 +22; 8. Vanderbilt 301-299 — 600 +24; 9. Mississippi 314-308 — 622 +46; 10. Miss. State 317-307 — 624 +48; 11. Kentucky 323-304 — 627 +51; 12. Arkansas 315-321 — 636 +60.
Top 15 Individuals (Par 72-144)
1. Kristy McPherson, South Carolina, 67-70 — 137 -7
2. Katy Harris, LSU, 74-65 — 139 -5
3. Summer Sirmons, Georgia, 73-69 — 142 -2
4. Meredith Duncan, LSU, 71-72 — 143 -1
4. Celeste Troche, Auburn, 70-73 — 143 -1
4. Laura Henderson, Georgia, 69-74 — 143 -1
7. Brittany Straza, Florida, 70-74 — 144 E
7. Reilley Rankin, Georgia, 70-74 — 144 E
9. Young-A Yang, Tennessee, 73-72 — 145 +1
10. Sarah Johnston, Alabama, 74-72 — 146 +2
10. Paula Carter, Alabama, 74-72 — 146 +2
12. Nicki Cutler, Vandy, 76-71 — 147 +3
12. Erin Simmons, Tennessee, 75-72 — 147 +3
12. Amanda Dick, Florida, 72-75 — 147 +3
15. Courtney Swaim, Auburn, 75-73 — 148 +4
15. Anna Knutsson, Miss. St., 77-71 — 148 +4
15. Marci Robinson, S. Carolina, 75-73 — 148 +4
15. Isabell Dornellas, LSU, 73-75 — 148 +4
LSU SCORES
t2. Katy Harris 74-65 — 139 -5
t4. Meredith Duncan 71-72 — 143 -1
t15. Isabell Dornellas 73-75 — 148 +4
t20. Lesley McClurg 69-81 — 150 +6
t38. Lindy Hitdlebaugh 78-77 — 155 +11