PARRISH, Fla. — The LSU women’s golf team overcame a sluggish start to standing fourth place in the 15-team Central District Invitational being played here Monday at the River Wilderness Golf Club.
The Lady Tigers, ranked 13th in the latest coaches poll, opened the first round of the two 18-hole shotgun rounds at the mid-point of the front nine and posted eight-over as a team before getting on to the back nine holes. But the team was able to settle in and finished the first 18 holes at 15-over 303.
In the afternoon round, the team posted a solid eight-over 296 and was able to finish the first 36 holes of the 54-hole event at 23-over 599. Missouri is the team leader at 11 over 587 (292-295), two shots ahead of Arkansas at 589. Baylor is third at 595, four shots ahead of LSU. It is 11-shots more back to fifth place Michigan and Texas A&M, tied at 34-over 610.
Stacy Lewis is the individual leader of the tournament at two-under 142 after shooting rounds of 72-70. She is three shots clear of Sian Reddick at one-over 145. LSU’s top player is Brooke Shelton, who moved from 17th to 12th in the afternoon round and finished 36-holes at four-over par 148 (75-73). One more shot back is Kimberly Meck of LSU at five-over 149 and in 15th place after rounds of 76-73.
“We did not get off to the best of starts but we got our act together and grinded through the round and played much better in the afternoon,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “We needed to play and get the girls back out her playing tournament golf and they got better and better as the day went on.”
The tournament concludes with one more round Tuesday morning.
Central District Invitational — Parrish, Fla.
Team Results (Par 288-576)
1. Missouri 292-295 — 587 +11; 2. Arkansas 296-293 — 589 +13; 3. Baylor 300-295 — 595 +19; 4. LSU 303-296 — 599 +23; 5. Michigan 307-303 — 610 +34; Texas A&M 306-304 — 610 +34; 7. Texas Tech 311-300 — 611 +35; 8. Ohio State 303-310 — 613 +37; 9. SMU 309-305 — 614 +38; 10. Nebraska 306-310 — 616 +40; 11. Michigan State 304-313 — 617 +41; 12. Notre Dame 313-305 — 618 +42; 13. Northwestern 317-308 — 625 +49; 14. Indiana 316-323 — 639 +63; 15. Kansas State 321-321 — 642 +66.
Individual Top 5 (Par 72-144)
1. Stacy Lewis, Arkansas 72-70 — 142 -2; 2. Sian Reddick, Baylor, 73-72 — 145 +1; 3. Jennifer Ackerson, SMU, 73-73 — 146 +2; 3. Merrynn Ito, Nebraska, 69-77 — 146 +2; 3. Denise Knaebel, Missouri, 73-73 — 146 +2; 3. Amanda McCurdy, Arkansas, 71-75 — 146 +2; 3. Maria Ohlsson, Missouri, 76-70 — 146 +2; 3. Amy Schumucker, Michigan, 74-72 — 146 +2; 3. Kristen White, Ohio State, 71-75 — 146 +2.
LSU Scores
T12. Brooke Shelton 75-73 — 148 +4
15. Kimberly Meck 76-73 — 149 +5
T19. Rebecca Kuhn 76-75 — 151 +7
T19. Vicky Meyer 76-75 — 151 +7
T69. Nicola Eaton 83-84 — 167 +23