GREENVILLE, S.C. — LSU senior golfer Meredith Duncan fired a 1-under 71 on Saturday and enters the final round of the Lady Paladin Invitational with a two-stroke lead in search of her first collegiate individual title.
Duncan, from Shreveport, who is the 2001 United States Women’s Amateur champion, has a two-day total of 143 (72-71) over the Furman University Golf Course and stands two shots in front of Nuria Clau of Wake Forest (72-73 – 145). Clau was tied for the first-round lead with Duncan at the end of Friday’s play.
Danielle Downey of Auburn is third at 3-over 147, with Deborah Means of Wake Forest in fourth at 148.
Duncan in her college career at LSU has been second once, in the 2000 LSU/Cleveland Golf Classic.
Duncan has helped her LSU team to stay in third after two rounds of the 21-team tournament. LSU fired an 18-over 306 on the second day to finish 36-holes at 32-over 608. Auburn is the leader at 23-over 599 (299-300), with Wake Forest second at 299-302 – 601 (25-over). The Tigers are two shots up on TCU (34-over) and three shots up on Florida and Vanderbilt (35-over).
“We didn’t play as well as the day before but the conditions were a little tougher in the afternoon,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “We were able to hold our position, we have a player in position for a possible victory and another in line for a top 10 finish, so we just want to go out Sunday and concentrate and put together the best effort we can.”
LSU’s senior from Gretna, Lindy Hitdlebaugh fired a 3-over 74 on the second round and stands at 6-over 150 (76-74), good enough for a tie for eighth place. LSU also counted on the day and 80 from Isabel Dornellas and an 81 from Brooke Shelton.
The tournament concludes with a shotgun start round on Sunday with LSU playing in the final groups with Auburn and Wake Forest.
Lady Paladin Invitational
Furman University Golf Course
Team Results (288-576)
1. Auburn 299-300 – 599 +23; 2. Wake Forest 299-302 – 601 +25; 3. LSU 302-306 – 608 +32; 4. TCU 304-306 – 610 +34; 5. Florida 312-299 – 611 +35; 5. Vanderbilt 308-303 – 611 +35; 7. Michigan State 311-303 – 614 +38; 8. Ohio State 302-316 – 618 +42; 9. Purdue 309-311 – 620 +44; 10. Furman 310-316 – 626 +50; 11. North Carolina 314-313 – 627 +51; 12. Louisville 316-315 – 631 +55; 13. Tulane 309-323 – 632 +56; 14. South Carolina 325-310 – 635 +59; 15. Memphis 321-317 – 638 +62; 16. Coastal Carolina 326-317 – 643 +67; 17. Winthrop 326-322 – 648 +72; 18. Charleston 331-320 – 651 +75; 19. North Carolina-Greensboro 334-320 – 654 +78; 20. Appalachian State 351-350 – 701 +125; 21. Wofford 360-364 – 724 +148.
Indvidual Top 5 (Par 72-144)
1. Meredith Duncan, LSU, 72-71 – 143 -1; 2. Nuria Clau, Wake Forest, 72-73 – 145 +1; 3. Danielle Downey, Auburn, 75-72 – 147 +3; 4. Deborah Means, Wake Forest, 75-73 – 148+4; 5. Brooke Tull, TCU, 75-74 – 149 +5; 5. Emily Bastel, Michigan State, 76-73 – 149 +5; 5. Courtney Wood, Vanderbilt, 75-74 – 149 +5.
LSU Results.
1. Meredith Duncan 72-71 – 143 -1
t8. Lindy Hitdlebaugh 76-74 – 150 +6
t26. Isabel Dornellas 75-80 – 155 +11
t62. Brook Shelton 79-81 – 160 +16
t91. Devon Day 85-85 – 150 +26
t103. Erin Sarver 84-91 – 175 +31