KNOXVILLE, TENN. — LSU senior Brooke Shelton and sophomore Melissa Eaton recorded top 10 finishes as the 10th-ranked Lady Tiger golf team finished fifth Sunday in the Mercedes-Benz Women’s Championships here Sunday at the Cherokee Country Club.
Shelton and Eaton both finished at nine-over 222 to finish in a group tied for 10th place. For Shelton it was her second top 10 of the season and the eighth of her career at LSU. Eaton records her second career top 10 finish at LSU.
The Lady Tigers posted a round of 299 on the final day to finish at 46-over par 898 (302-297-299) to take fifth in the 17-team competition. Ohio State wins the tournament at 22-over 874 (293-287-294) followed by Tulane and Tulane, tying for second at 881 and Kent State in fourth at 35-over 887.
LSU counted a three-over 74 and three four-over 75s on the final day of competition with Shelton recording a 74 and Melissa Eaton, Nicola Eaton and Rebecca Kuhn getting the counting rounds of 75. For the tournament Shelton had rounds of 76-72-74 for her top 10 finish and Melissa Eaton rounds of 74-73-75.
“We had some good scores (Sunday) and we were real close all weekend to having an even better weekend,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “We’ve had two very busy weeks and now we get a little time back home to work on a few things and get ready for the final tournament in Destin at the end of the month.”
Violeta Retamoza of Tennessee posted an even par round of 71 on the final day and that was enough for her to get the individual title at 2-under 211, one shot better than Allison Walshe of Tulane. Walshe also equaled par on the course and finished at 1-under 212.
The Lady Tigers will conclude the fall portion of the season Oct. 29-31 at the Raven course on the Sandestin Resort in the annual ACC/SEC Challenge.
Mercedes-Benz Women’s Championships
Final Team results (par 284-852)
1. Ohio State 293-287-294 — 874 +22; T2. Tulane 298-291-292 — 881 +29; T2. Tennessee 309-290-282 — 881 +29; 4. Kent State 296-302-289 — 887 +35; 5. LSU 302-297-299 — 898 +46; 6. Arkansas 289-310-300 — 899 +47; 7. Tulsa 297-306-299 — 902 +50; 8. Swedish Jr. Nationals 302-304-298 — 904 +52; Northwestern Univ. 299-309-305 — 913 +61; 10 Purdue 303-311-312 — 926 +74; T11. Kentucky 307-311-309 — 927 +75; T11. Michigan State 303-312-312 — 927 +75; T13. Virginia 311-307-310 — 928 +76; T13. Alabama 314-312-302 — 928 +76; 15. NC Wilmington 320-303-310 — 933 +81; 16. Penn State 321-309-314 — 944 +92; 17. James Madison 321-314-317 — 952 +100.
Individual Top 5 (Par 71-213)
1. Violeta Retamoza, Tennessee, 72-68-71 — 211 -2; 2. Alison Walshe, Tulane, 71-70-71 –212 -1; 3. Lindsay Knowlton, Ohio State, 72-69-74 — 215 +2; 4. Ina Kim, Northwestern, 71-71-75 — 217 +4; 4. Gabby Wedding, Kent State, 69-76-72 — 217 +4.
LSU Scores
T10. Brooke Shelton 76-72-74 — 222 +9
T10. Melissa Eaton 74-73-75 — 222 +9
T28. Vicky Meyer 75-75-76 — 226 +13
T39. Nicola Eaton 77-77-75 — 229 +16
T43. Rebecca Kuhn 78-78-75 — 231 +18