LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The LSU men’s golf team shot an opening-round 3-over 287 Monday to take a four-stroke lead in the Windon Memorial Classic at Conway Farms Golf Club.
The Tigers were scheduled to complete the second round in the afternoon, but play was suspended due to darkness.
“We showed a lot of toughness out there today,” said LSU head coach Greg Jones. “It was very windy and cold on the course this morning, and we showed the mental toughness and focus we had by battling through those conditions.”
Three Tigers are in the top 10 after posting solid opening rounds. Sophomore Chris Wells is currently in a tie for second place after firing a 1-under 70, and senior Heath West is one stroke behind in a tie for sixth place with an even-par 71. Freshman Beck Troutman shot a 1-over 72 and is in a tie for 10th after his first round as a Tiger.
“Those guys were all very solid, and they played very smart and were tough in the wind this morning,” said Jones. “Chris has been solid all year, and Heath played the way he is capable. Troutman looked really good out there as a freshman, and you wouldn’t know he was a freshman by his play today.”
Senior Jake Shaw is in a tie for 21st after shooting a 3-over 74 in his first action of the season, and sophomore Garrett Runion rounds out the scoring for the Tigers by sitting in a tie for 51st with a 6-over 77.
LSU leads the tournament by four shots over Duke, which recorded a 7-over 291, and six shots over defending champion Minnesota. Bronson LaCassie of Minnesota leads the championship by one stroke after shooting a 2-under 69.
Second-round action will resume tomorrow at 8:30 a.m., with the third round beginning immediately upon its completion.
WINDON MEMORIAL CLASSIC
TEAM SCORES (Par 284)
1. LSU 287 +3; 2. Duke 291 +7; 3. Minnesota 293 +9; t4. Northwestern 294 +10; t4. Kent State 294 +10; t6. Toledo 296 +12; t6. Purdue 296 +12; t8. Illinois 297 +13; t8. North Florida 297 +13; 10. Stanford 301 +17; 11. Oklahoma 304 +20; t12. Kansas 305 +21; t12. Furman 305 +21; t14. Richmond 307 +23; t14. Notre Dame 307 +23; t16. North Carolina State 309 +25; t16. UC-Davis 309 +25; 18. California 314 +30
TOP FIVE INDIVIDUALS (Par 71)
1. Bronson LaCassie, Minnesota, 34-35 — 69 -2; t2. Peter Laws, Kent State, 35-35 — 70 -1; t2. Anthony Kim, Oklahoma, 37-33 — 70 -1; t2. Peter Richardson, Purdue, 35-35 — 70 -1; t2. Chris Wells, LSU, 35-35 — 70 -1
LSU SCORES
T2. Chris Wells 35-35 — 70 -1
T6. Heath West 33-38 — 71 E
T10. Beck Troutman 34-38 — 72 +1
T21. Jake Shaw 38-36 — 74 +3
T51. Garrett Runion 39-38 — 77 +6