NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The 10th-ranked LSU Lady Tigers posted a solid opening round of eight-over 296 to put themselves right in contention after one round of the Mason Rudolph Women’s Championships here Friday.
The Tigers first-round score over the Vanderbilt Legends Club puts LSU in fifth place, seven shots out of the lead of top-ranked UCLA as the Bruins posted a one-over 289. Texas is second at 291, with defending champion Georgia in third at 292. Arizona is the only other team ahead of LSU in fourth at 295.
LSU won its opening event of the season, the Cougar Classic at the College of Charleston.
Furman, at 298, and North Carolina State and Virginia at 299 are right behind LSU in the standings. Tulane is tied for 10th with second-ranked Duke at 13-over 301.
Individually, the Tigers had five good scores, dropping one of two 76 rounds in the play five, count four format. Sophomore Melissa Eaton was the best of the LSU scores with an even par 72 and stands in a tie for 11th in the competition that is led by Alison Walshe of Tulane, Cassandra Kirkland of Arizona and Perry Swenson of Texas at two-under 70.
Junior Vicky Meyer, coming off a tie for third in the team’s first event, posted a one-over 73 for LSU with freshman Rebecca Kuhn at 75 and senior Brooke Shelton and freshman Kimberly Meck at 76. Meyer is in a tie for 14th.
“It was a good start for us and you want to be right in contention after the first round and certainly this puts us there,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “This is a much deeper field than the tournament we won at Charleston, so this is a good barometer for us. Now we just have to keep heading in the right direction the next two days and see what happens.”
The tournament, named for the famed professional golfer, continues through Sunday.
Mason Rudolph Championships
Team Results (par 288)
1. UCLA 289 +1; 2. Texas 291 +3; 3. Georgia 292 +4; 4. Arizona 295 +7; 5. LSU 296 +8; 6. Furman 298 +10; 7. North Carolina State 299 +11; 7. Virginia 299 +11; 9. Missouri 300 +12; 10. Duke 301 +13; 10. Tulane 301 +13; 12. Vanderbilt 303 +15; 12. Wake Forest 303 +15; 14. Florida 304 +16; 15. Oklahoma 305 +17; 15. SMU 305 +17; 17. South Carolina 312 +24; 18. North Carolina 320 +32.
Top 5 Individuals (Par 72)
1. Alison Walshe 35-35 — 70 -2; 1. Cassandra Kirkland 35-35 — 70 -2; 1. Perry Swenson 36-34 — 70 -2; 4. Brittany Lang, Duke, 33-38 — 71 -1; 4. Maria Ohlsson, Missouri, 39-32 — 71 -1; 4. Hannah Jun, UCLA, 37-34 — 71 -1; 4. Susie Mathews, UCLA, 37-34 — 71 -1; 4. Molly Birmingham, NC State, 37-34 — 71 -1; 4. Charlotte Mayorkas, UCLA, 36-35 — 71 -1; 4. Natalia Nicholls, Georgia, 34-37 — 71 -1.
LSU Scores
T11. Melissa Eaton 34-38 — 72 E
T14. Vicky Meyer 37-36 — 73 +1
T30. Rebecca Kuhn 38-37 — 75 +3
T42. Brooke Shelton 38-38 — 76 +4
T42. Kimberly Meck 40-36 — 76 +4