BATON ROUGE — LSU’s Meredith Duncan won her third collegiate title in the last five college events she has participated in, scoring a three-stroke victory Sunday in the 21st annual LSU/Cleveland Golf Classic.
Duncan, battling the high winds at the University Club, posted a 1-over 73 in the final round to finish 54 holes at 1-under par 215 (71-71-73). It was the fourth lowest 54 hole total posted in tournament history.
The Shreveport senior, paired with second round leader Celeste Troche of Auburn, set the tone early, getting some front nine birdies while the winds were still calm to move to the lead. Troche struggled home with a 77 to finish tied with teammate Kingsley Barrett of Auburn at 2-over 218. Another Auburn player, Danielle Downey, finished fourth at 4-over par 220.
Duncan’s win comes just one week after playing in the LPGA’s first major of the season at the Kraft Nabisco Championships in California.
In the team event, the nation’s top team, Auburn, again forced to play with just four available counting scores with Diana Ramage under the weather for the second straight day, held off an early LSU charge to win with a 54-hole score of 19-over 883.
But it wasn’t all bad for LSU as the host Tigers posted their best 54-hole total of the season, a 31-over 895, 12 shots behind Auburn and 16 shots ahead of third-place South Carolina. The Tigers played with confidence on the home course, a good sign since the University Club will be the site of this year’s NCAA East Region in May.
“I’m very pleased with how we hung in there all weekend,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “We weren’t intimidated by Auburn and we just did our best all weekend long and there is nothing to be ashamed of. I’m very happy for Meredith and all the girls because this really sets us up nicely for the SECs (in two weeks) and then the East Regional.
LSU senior Lindy Hitdlebaugh had her third consecutive top eight finish in the Classic with a tie for fifth place at 5-over 221. Freshman Brooke Shelton also had a top 10 finish with a tie for ninth at 9-over 225.
LSU’s next appearance is the annual Southeastern Conference Women’s Championships at Athens Ga., April 19-21, at the University of Georgia Golf Course.
LSU/CLEVELAND GOLF CLASSIC
BATON ROUGE – UNIVERSITY CLUB
Final Team Results (Par 288-864)
1. Auburn 290-289-304 – 893 +19; 2. LSU 297-293-305 – 895 +31; 3. South Carolina 303-306-302 – 911 +47; 4. Vanderbilt 300-308-305 – 913 +49; 5. Ole Miss 305-306-307 – 918 +54; 6. Miss. State 309-304-307 – 920 +56; 7. Tulane 307-302-315 – 924 +60; 7. Alabama 302-313 – 309 – 924 +60; 9. Texas A&M Corpus Christi 314-304-326 – 944 +80; 10. UAB 316-315-317 – 948 +84; 11. New Orleans 325-326-323 – 974 +110; 12. Augusta State 322-324-329 – 975 +111; 13. Birmingham Southern 320-338-331 – 989 +125.