NEW ORLEANS — The LSU women’s golf team opened with two solid rounds to stand in second place after the first day of the Nokia Sugar Bowl/Tulane Invitational at the English Turn Golf and Country Club.
Playing the same course as the PGA Tour plays in the HP Classic in May, the Lady Tigers shot rounds of 303-306 for a 36-hole total of 609, 33-over par. LSU is second, 20 shots behind Tulane which opened with an even par round of 288 and had 301 in the afternoon for a 13-over par 589. The Lady Tigers are 11 strokes ahead of third place Mississippi at 44-over par and then it is six shots back to Alabama at 50-over par 626.
Tulane and LSU golfers dominate the top 10 of the leader board with Mary Ellen Jacobs of Tulane the 36-hole leader at three-under 141 after rounds of 69-72. Lilianna Alvarez is second five shots back at three-over 146 (70-76). LSU sophomore Vicky Meyer is alone in third place after back-to-back rounds of 74 for a four-over total of 148.
The Lady Tigers counted four golfers who are all in the top 11 in the individual competition as Brooke Shelton is tied for seventh at 153 with freshmen Melissa Eaton (78-76) and Alexis Rather (76-78) posting 36-hole totals of 154.
“For our first two rounds on a very difficult golf course, I am happy with what we were able to do,” said LSU women’s golf coach Karen Bahnsen. “We had some good scores (Monday) and we know we can do better, and we hope we will be able to improve our score on Tuesday. It’s not necessarily right now the other teams, it’s what we are able to do.”
The tournament concludes on Tuesday with the final 18 holes.
Nokia Sugar Bowl/Tulane Invitational
Team results (Par 288-576)
1. Tulane 288-301 — 589 +13; 2. LSU 303-306 — 609 +33; 3. Mississippi 303-317 — 620 +44; 4. Alabama 322-304 — 626 +50; 5. Campbell 318-316 — 634 +58; 6. TCU 318-319 — 637 +61; 7. East Carolina 325-323 – -648 +72; 8. Mississippi State 334-323 — 657 +81; 9. New Orleans 329-331 — 660 +84.
Top 5 Individuals (par 72-144)
1. Mary Ellen Jacobs, Tulane, 69-72 — 141 -3; 2. Liliana Alvarez, Tulane, 70-76 — 146 +2; 3. Vicky Meyer, LSU, 74-74 — 148 +4; 4. Lindsay Hulwick, Tulane, 75-74 — 149 +5; 5. Adrienne White, Ole Miss, 73-77 — 150 +6.
LSU Scores
3. Vicky Meyer 74-74 — 148 +4
t7. Brooke Shelton 75-78 — 153 +9
t11. Melissa Eaton 78-76 — 154 +10
T11. Alexis Rather 76-78 — 154 +10
T39. Devon Day 83-87 — 170 +26