PARRISH, Fla. — The 26th-ranked LSU women’s golf team put itself in position for its first win since April 2001 leading from start-to-finish of the first 36 holes of the Central District Regional women’s golf tournament here Monday.
Playing at the River Wilderness Golf Club in an event hosted by Michigan State, the Lady Tigers posted rounds of seven-over 295 and 10-over 298 to stand at 17-over par 593 after the first 36 holes of the 54-hole event which concludes on Tuesday. It is the first time since the 2002 LSU/Cleveland Classic that the Lady Tigers have posted back-to-back rounds of under 300 in a tournament.
The Tigers enter the final 18 holes with a three-shot advantage over 16th-ranked Michigan State after the hosts shot back-to-back rounds of 10-over 298 for a 20-over par 596. Kansas State rounds out the top three at 23-over 599.
LSU is trying to win its first team title since the 2001 edition of the LSU/Cleveland Golf Classic and the Lady Tigers are trying to win outside the state of Louisiana for the first time since the 1997 SunTrust Lady Gator Invitational.
Individually, Wisconsin’s Malinda Johnson had rounds of 69-75 to finish at even par 144 to hold the lead after 36 holes. LSU junior Brooke Shelton had rounds of 74-72 to finish at 2-over 146, good enough for a tie for fourth place. Freshman Alexis Rather, with rounds of 73-75 — 148, is in a tie for ninth.
LSU’s South African freshman twins, Melissa and Nicola Eaton, played in the same tournament for the first time at LSU and finished the first day tied with the same 36-hole score although they took different routes to get it. Melissa had rounds of 75-75 for her six-over 150, while Nicola had rounds of 73-77 for her six-over 150.
Sophomore Vicky Meyer shot identical rounds of 76-76 for a 152 total after the first day and is tied for 22nd.
“This was a very exciting day for us,” said LSU women’s golf coach Karen Bahnsen of her team’s play. “The main thing for us was to play hole-by-hole and not let a problem on one hole mess up the next. That’s how we stayed out of a lot of back-to-back big numbers and if we can keep that attitude (Tuesday) then we have a chance to get ourselves a tournament win.”
The teams will shot gun start the final round at 7 a.m. CST.
Central District Regional
Team Results (Par 288-576)
1. LSU 295-298 — 593 +17; 2. Michigan State 298-298 — 596 +20; 3. Kansas State 304-295 — 599 +23; 4. TCU 299-305 — 604 +28; 5. Arkansas 307-303 — 610 +34; 6. Baylor 306-305 — 611 +35; 7. Texas Tech 306-307 — 613 +37; 8. Northwestern 303-314 — 617 +41; 9. Texas A&M 310-309 — 619 +43; T10. Iowa State 316-306; T10. Nebraska 306-316 — 622 +46; 12. Iowa 312-316 — 628 +52; 13. Wisconsin 317-317 — 634 +58; 14. Indiana 329-318 — 647 +71; 15. Minnesota 323-330 — 653 +77.
Individual Top 5 (Par 72-144)
1. Malinda Johnson, Wisconsin 69-75 — 144 E; 2. Camille Blackerby, TCU, 72-73 — 145 +1; 2. Sarah Heffel, Kansas State, 73-72 –145 +1; 4. Sarah Martin, Michigan State, 73-73 — 146 +2; 4. Brooke Shelton, LSU, 74-72 — 146 +2.
LSU Scores
T4. Brooke Shelton 74-72 — 146 +2
T9. Alexis Rather 73-75 — 148 +4
T13. Melissa Eaton 75-75 — 150 +6
T13. Nicola Eaton 73-77 — 150 +6
T22. Vicky Meyer 76-76 — 152 +8