GAINESVILLE, Fla. — LSU senior Meredith Duncan shot an even par round of 70 in the second round Saturday of the SunTrust Lady Gator Invitational and widened her individual lead entering Sunday’s final round.
Duncan, a winner in the final tournament of the fall, had a 36-hole total of 1-under par 139 (69-70) on the 5,927-yard, par 70 newly renovated University of Florida Golf Course. She is five shots ahead of Brittany Straza of Florida at 4-over 144 with Anna Gertsson of Mississippi State third at 145.
Duncan, from Shreveport, is the defending U.S. Women’s Amateur champion and the 16th rated collegiate golfer in the country entering this tournament.
The 18th-ranked Lady Tiger team, tied for the lead after the first round, fell back to sixth on Saturday after a round of 36-over 316. The team stands at 614 (54-over par), 14 shots out of the lead held by host Florida at 40-over 600 (298-302). Georgia is eight shots back in second at 608.
Brooke Shelton, the freshman from Dallas, had a strong second round, a five-over 75, to move up to 13th place overall in the competition at 13-over 153, but LSU also had to count two 80-plus scores in the team total, an 85 from Lindy Hitdlebaugh and an 86 from Isabel Dornellas.
“Other than Meredith and Brooke, it was a struggle for our team,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “It was just a tough round for us. We’ll try to focus in for a good finish and try to move up a few spots.”
SunTrust Lady Gator Invitational
University of Florida Golf Course
Team Results (280-560)
1. Florida 298-302 – 600 +40; 2. Georgia 298-310 – 608 +48; 3. Mississippi State 310-308 – 609 +49; 4. Vandy 307-305 – 612 +52; 4. South Carolina 304-308 – 612 +52; 6. LSU 298-316 – 614 +54; 6. So. Florida 299-315 – 614 +54; 8. Ole Miss 307-321 – 628 +68; 9. North Carolina 307-324 – 631 +71; 9. Kentucky 305-326 – 631 +71; 11. Florida State 312-322 – 634 +74; 12. Central Florida 308-328 – 636 +76; 13. Alabama 302-328 – 640 +80; 14. Florida International 317-324 – 641 +81; 15. Arkansas 318-324 – 643 +83.
Indvidual Results (70-140)
Top 5
1. Meredith Duncan, LSU, 69-70 – 139 -1; 2. Brittany Straza, Florida, 73-71 – 144 +4; 3. Anna Gertsson, Miss. State, 71-74 – 145 +5; 4. Sarah Jacobs, Vanderbilt, 74-72 – 146 +6; 5. Kacy Thompson, S. Carolina, 70-77 – 147 +7.
LSU Results
1. Meredith Duncan 69-70 – 139 -1
t13. Brooke Shelton 78-75 – 153 +13
t24. Lindy Hitdlebaugh 71-85 – 156 +16
t64. Isabel Dornellas 80-86 – 166 +26
76. Devon Day 82-88 – 170 +30