GAINESVILLE, Fla. — It took LSU senior golfer Meredith Duncan four tournaments into her senior season to win her first collegiate tournament, the Lady Paladin Invitation to conclude the fall 2001 season.
Now she becomes only the third LSU golfer to win back-to-back tournaments as Duncan wins the title in the first tournament of the 2002 spring season Sunday, the Sun Trust Lady Gator at the University of Florida Golf Course.
Duncan, the Shreveporter who won three major amateur titles including the U.S. Women’s Amateur title this past summer, joins Jenny Lidback and Kristi Coats as the only LSU women’s golfers to win back-to-back events and Duncan becomes just the sixth Lady Tiger to win multiple titles in their careers.
Duncan’s march to the title proved to be fairly easy, posting a 5-over 75on the final day over the par-70, 5,927-yard newly renovated campus facility. Duncan finished the 54 holes at 4-over par 214 (69-70-75), winning by seven shots over five golfers – Anna Gertsson of Mississippi State, Brittany Straza and Jeanne Cho of Florida, Summer Sirmons of Georgia and Sarah Jacobs of Vanderbilt.
Duncan’s opening round of 69 was the only sub-par round of the tournament.
As a team, LSU improved one position on the final day to fifth place, finishing at 85-over par 925 after a 311 score on Sunday. That was 25 shots behind winner Florida, which posted a 60-over 900 (298-302-300). South Carolina was second at 909 and Georgia was third at 910.
The Tigers got a nice rebound from Lindy Hitdlebaugh, the senior from Gretna, who finished the day with a 5-over 75 and finished in 17th place overall with a 21-over 54-hole total of 231 (71-85-75). LSU freshman Brooke Shelton had another top 20 finish, tying for 20th at 23-over 233 (78-75-80).
LSU’s other counting score on the day was an 81 from sophomore Devon Day.
“I can’t tell you how pleasing it was to watch Meredith go out and win her second straight collegiate event,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “We had some good things and some shaky moments, but we know what we need to work on and have a few weeks to get ready for our next event.”
LSU’s next tournament is the Lady Gamecock Classic at South Carolina, March 15-17.
SunTrust Lady Gator Invitational
University of Florida Golf Course
Gainesville, Fla.
Final Team Results (Par 280-840)
1. Florida 298-302-300 – 900 +60; 2. South Carolina 304-308-297 – 909 +69; 3. Georgia 298-310-302 – 910 +70; 4. Vanderbilt 307-305-308 – 920 +80; 5. LSU 298-316-311 – 925 +85; 6. Mississippi State 301-308-321 – 930 +90; 7. South Florida 299-315-320 – 934 +94; 8. Central Florida 308-328-302 – 938 +98; 9. Kentucky 305-326-308 – 939 +99; 10. North Carolina 307-324-310 – 941 +101; 11. Ole Miss 307-321-314 – 942 +102; 11. Florida State 312-322-308 – 942 +102; 13. Alabama 302-338-315 – 955 +115; 14. Florida International 317-324-322 -963 – 123; 15. Arkansas 319-324-316 – 969 +129.
Individual Top 5 (Par 70-210)
1. Meredith Duncan, LSU, 69-70-75 – 214 +4; 2. Anna Gertsson, Miss. St., 71-74-76 – 211 +11; 2. Brittany Straza, Florida, 73-71-77 – 221 +11; 2. Jeanne Cho, Florida, 75-74-72 – 221 +11; 2. Summer Sirmons, Georgia, 74-75-72 – 221 +11; 2. Sarah Jacobs, Vanderbilt, 74-72-75 – 221 +11.
LSU Scores
1. Meredith Duncan 69-70-75 – 214 +4
17. Lindy Hitdlebaugh 71-85-75 – 231 +21
t20. Brooke Shelton 78-75-80 – 233 +23
71. Isabel Dornellas 80-86-82 – 248 +38
t74. Devon Day 82-88-81 – 251 +41