ATHENS, Ga. — Defending United States Women’s Amateur champion Meredith Duncan of LSU continued her hot play of late, firing a bogey-free college career low opening round of 3-under 69 to stand in a four-way tie for the lead in the Southeastern Conference Women’s Golf Championships Friday at the University of Georgia Golf Course.
Duncan, a senior from Shreveport, La., birdied the par-four second hole early in the day and then had back-to-back birdies on the par-four 15th and the par-three 16th to join three other golfers in a tie for the individual lead.
Duncan’s round was the only conventional one of the four as Kristy McPherson of South Carolina, Young-a Yang of Tennessee and Danielle Downey of Auburn also posted 3-under 69s. Only two other rounds have been lower on the opening day of competition.
McPherson eagled the par-5 12th hole as part of her 69, while Yang had five birdies and two bogeys. Downey finished the strongest of the four, with birdies on four of the last six holes.
“I hit the ball very well (Friday),” said Duncan after her round. “I’m very happy with how things went. It could always be better. I felt like I was in that mode where I could score low and I felt like I still left a few putts out there. But I’m not disappointed in the round at all.”
Duncan’s previous college low had been 70s on five occasions. The 10th-ranked player in women’s college golf has won three of the last five collegiate tournaments she has participated in, including most recently
It looked like Whitney Code of Florida would have the lead after 18 hole individually, getting it as low as 4-under par through 12 holes, but Code finished with a 2-under 70 and is in a group tied for fifth.
For the second straight year, the women’s tournament opened in weather conditions on a course that was ready for low scores and the nation’s top-ranked team, Auburn, put both hands on the championship trophy early in this one, firing an 8-under round of 280, the best round in the tournament since 1988. All four of Auburn’s counting scores were under par.
South Carolina is in second, nine shots back at 1-over 289. LSU’s round of 303 puts it in seventh place going to the second day of the three-day, 54-hole event, 23 shots out of the lead.
LSU, besides Duncan’s 69, counted a three-over 75 from senior Lindy Hitdlebaugh, a strong 6-over 78 from Isabel Dornellas and an 81 from Devon Day. Hitdlebaugh was 2-under on her round after eight holes, double bogeying nine to go even at the turn. Hitdlebaugh shot 39 on the back side to finish the opening day in a tie for 17th place. Hitdlebaugh was one of three players on the day to have a round-best five birdies.
“We just could not hold it together on the closing holes to get a lower score in,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “But Auburn did a tremendous job showing why they are No. 1 in the country. It’s not over yet and we hope to make some moves up the board as we have in past years. Meredith really played well and she looks ready to possibly have a big weekend.”
SEC WOMEN’S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA GOLF COURSE
Athens, Ga.
Team Results (Par 288)
1. Auburn 280 -8
2. South Carolina 289 +1
3. Tennessee 295 +7
4. Georgia 298 +10
4. Florida 298 +10
6. Vandy 300 +12
7. LSU 303 +15
8. Alabama 305 +17
9. Ole Miss 310 +22
10. Kentucky 312 +24
11. Mississippi State 317 +29
12. Arkansas 320 +32
Individual Top 10 (Par 72)
1. Meredith Duncan, LSU, 69 -3
1. Danielle Downey, Auburn, 69 -3
1. Kristy McPherson, S. Carolina, 69 -3
1. Young-A Yang, Tennessee, 69 -3
5. Whitney Code, Florida, 70 -2
5. Diana Ramage, Auburn, 70 -2
5. Celeste Troche, Auburn, 70 -2
8. Tina Schneeberger, Tennessee, 71 -1
8. Anna Strandberg, Alabama, 71 -1
8. Courtney Swaim, Auburn, 71 -1
LSU Scores
t1. Meredith Duncan, 35-34 — 69, -3
t17. Lindy Hitdlebaugh, 36-39 — 75 +3
t35. Isabel Dornellas 38-40 — 78 +6
t47. Devon Day 40-41 — 81 +9
t53. Brooke Shelton 43-39 — 82 +10