BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. — The LSU Lady Tiger golf team kept pace with the field Friday and finds itself in second place, one shot out of the lead after the first 18 holes of the University of South Carolina Lady Gamecock Classic at the University Club.
LSU, ranked 14th in the country, finished the first day of the 54-hole event with a 21-over par 309, one shot better than the 308 posted by New Mexico. Host South Carolina is third at 25-over 313 while it is another four shots back to fourth-place Furman at 30-over 318.
The younger part of the Lady Tiger lineup had success on the opening day with freshmen Kimberly Meck and Rebecca Kuhn each shooting four-over 76s on a day when only one player shot even par in the 12-team tournament. Junior Vicky Meyer had a six-over 78 and Melissa Eaton, a sophomore, posted the day’s final team counting score of 79.
Both Meck and Kuhn are tied for fourth in the first-round individual leaders, led by the par 72 score of Caroline Rominger. SC’s Whitney Simons is second at one-over 73 and Kailin Down of New Mexico is third at three-over 75.
“The scores were high and we had to really grind out there, but I was pleased with how we were able to get a score home that put us in position after the first round to challenge,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “We are in a good position and we just need to continue to put ourselves in position.”
The tournament runs through Sunday before LSU comes home to host the LSU/Cleveland Golf Classic at the LSU University Club in Baton Rouge, March 18-20.
Lady Gamecock Classic Team Results (Par 288)
1.New Mexico 308 +20; 2. LSU 309 +21; 3. South Carolina 313 +25; 4. Furman 318 +30; 5. North Carolina 319 +31; 5. Augusta State 319 +31; 7. Virginia 320 +32; 8. North Carolina State 324 +36; 9. East Tennessee State 326 +38; 10. Florida State 328 +40; 11. Alabama 331 +43; 12. Minnesota 337 +49.
Individual Top 5 (Par 72)
1. Carolina Rominger, South Carolina, 72 E; 2. Whitney Simons, South Carolina, 73 +1; 3. Kailin Downs, New Mexico, 75 +3; 4. Jenny Suh, Furman; Kimberly Meck, LSU; Rebecca Kuhn, LSU; Katie Miller, North Carolina; Sally Shonk, Virginia, 76 +4.
LSU Scores
T4. Kimberly Meck 76 +4
T4. Rebecca Kuhn 76 +4
T10. Vicky Meyer 78 +6
T16. Melissa Eaton 79 +7
T60. Brooke Shelton 87 +15