NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The LSU women’s golf team improved in its final round in the Mason Rudolph Golf Championships hosted by Vanderbilt on Tuesday, but still finished 14th in the field of 14 teams in the 2002-03 season opening tournament.
LSU posted an 18-over 316 on the final day to finish the 54-hole tournament at 963, 99-over par.
Vanderbilt won its first collegiate tournament, capturing the women’s event with 14-over 878, 11 shots ahead of runnerup Arizona. Tennessee and last year’s defending champion, Ohio State, finished third for third at 38-over par 902.
LSU posted three counting scores in the 70s on the final day, with Brooke Shelton finishing with a 78, and Isabel Dornellas and Devon Day at 79. Shelton led all the Tigers with three rounds in the 70s (76-79-78) and a three round total of 233, good enough for a tie for 37th place. Dornellas finished in a tie for 57th at 240 (84-77-79).
Courtney Wood of Vanderbilt rallied from a first-round 77 to shoot 68-69 over the final 36 holes to win the individual competition at two-under 214, two strokes ahead of Arizona’s Erica Blasberg who finished with a 75 on Tuesday and even par 216.
“It was a tough start but the young players began to see what college golf is all about,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “This will due nothing but help us get better as we move on to the next event.”
LSU’s next start will also be in the state of Tennessee, the Mercedes-Benz Championships, set for Knoxville, Oct. 18-20.
Mason Rudolph Championships
At Nashville, Tenn.
Final Team Scores (288-864)
1. Vanderbilt 302-285-291 – 878 +14; 2. Arizona 296-287-304 – 887 +23; 3. Tennessee 298-307-297 – 902 +38; 3. Ohio State 303-303-296 – 902 +38; 5. Furman 309-301-306 – 916 +52; 6. Tulane 316-301-300 – 917 +53; 7. North Carolina State 307-310-308 – 925 +61; 8. Mississippi 310-309-311 – 930 +66; 9. Missouri 322-305-305 – 932 +68; 10. Northwestern 320-309-306 – 935 +71; 11. North Carolina Wilmington 311-314-311 – 936 +72; 12. Oregon State 314-319-313 – 946 +82; 13. Stanford 323-313-312 – 948 +84; 14. LSU 328-319-316 – 963 +99.
Top 5 Individuals
1. Courtney Wood, Vandy, 77-68-69 – 214 -2; 2. Erica Blasberg, Arizona, 72-69-75 – 216 E; 3. Brandi Jackson, Furman, 74-73-73 – 220 +4; 4. May Wood, Vanderbilt, 76-72-73 – 221 +5; 5. Allison Hanna, Ohio State, 75-74-73 – 222 +6; 5. Sarah Jacobs, Vanderbilt, 73-75-74 – 222 +6; 5. Miriam Kraschinskik, Arizona, 77-70-75 – 222 +6; 5. Jessica Shepley, Tennessee, 72-67-74 – 222 +6; 5. Kristen White, Ohio State, 73-74-75 – 222 +6.
LSU Scores
T37. Brooke Shelton 76-79-78 – 233 +17
T57. Isabel Dornellas 84-77-79 – 240 +24
T67. Devon Day 81-84-79 – 244 +28
75. Analia Lemus 89-81-80 – 250 +34
T76. Rachel Overstreet 87-82-83 – 252 +36