BATON ROUGE — It was a case of the best golf team in the country and a team that was very familiar with the surroundings dominating the second round Saturday of the LSU/Cleveland Golf Classic at the LSU University Club.
Auburn, the number one team in both major collegiate polls, followed Friday’s two-over 290 with a 1-over 289 with just four players playing to post a tournament record 36-hole total of 579, 3 over par on the 6,265-yard layout.
The host LSU Tigers, looking for confidence late in the season, continue to find it on their home course, a site that will play host to the NCAA East Regional later this year. LSU followed a 9-over 297 on Friday with a 5-over 293, a season best score, on Saturday, and stands at 14-over 590 going to the final day. The 590 is the seventh lowest score in LSU women’s golf history for 36 holes.
The two teams have opened up almost 20 shots on the rest of the 13-team field entering today’s final round. But there will still be a lot at stake and most of it will come for the second straight year in the individual competition where some of the nation’s top golfers will do battle over the final 18 holes.
Auburn’s Celeste Troche of Auburn, posted a second straight under par round of 2-under 70 to finish 36 holes at 3-under 141 (71-70). That is a tournament record for 36-holes. She is one stroke ahead of LSU senior and U.S. Amateur Champion, Meredith Duncan of Shreveport, who has posted back-to-back rounds of 1-under 71 and stands at 2-under 142.
Just two more shots back tied for third are LSU’s other senior, Lindy Hitdlebaugh of Gretna and Kingsley Barrett of Auburn. Both are at even par 144 with Kristy McPherson of South Carolina in fifth at 143.
After Auburn and LSU, Vanderbilt is third at 32-over 608, with Tulane, off a strong 14-over 302 round, tied with South Carolina at 33-over par 609. UNO is 12th at 75-over par 651.
Auburn played with just four counting players after Diana Ramage took sick over night and was forced to withdraw.
LSU on the day, also counted a 1-over 73 from freshman Brooke Shelton who is also in position for a top 10 finish with a 3-over par 147, good enough for a tie for seventh place. LSU’s other counting score was a 4-over 76 from sophomore Isabell Dornellas.
Admission is free for the final day of the tournament. LSU goes off in the final wave beginning at 9:30 a.m.
LSU/CLEVELAND GOLF CLASSIC AT Baton Rouge – University Club
Team Results (Par 288-576)
1. Auburn 290-289 – 579 +3; 2. LSU 297-293 – 590 +14; 3. Vanderbilt 300-308 – 608 +32; 4. Tulane 307-202; South Carolina 303-306 – 609 +33; 6. Mississippi 305-306 – 611 +35; 7. Mississippi State 309-304 – 613 +37; 8. Alabama 302-313 – 615 +39; 9. Texas A&M Corpus Christi 314-304 – 618 +42; 10 UAB 316-315 – 631 +55; 11. Augusta State 322-324 – 646 +70; 12. New Orleans 325-326 – 651 +75; 13. Birmingham Southern 320-338 – 658 +82.