CHARLESTON, S.C. — The LSU women’s golf team, without a practice round to get a feel for the course, finished the first two rounds of the College of Charleston’s Cougar Classic in a tie for seventh place going into Monday final round of the 54-hole tournament.
The event was put in the hurry-up mode with Hurricane Ophelia off the coast trying to make up its mind where it will come ashore. So instead of a practice round on Sunday and the first 36 holes on Monday, the teams elected to play 36 holes Sunday and finish the event on Monday.
The Lady Tigers struggled in the opening round to find the birdies, shooting an 18-over 306, but put things back together in the afternoon round, knocking nine strokes off the total to finish the day at 27-over par 603 over the Yeamans Hall, par 72, course.
Sophomore Kim Meck had a good overall day with back-to-back rounds of 73 to stand in a tie for 10th after 36 holes at 146, two over par. In the opening round, the Lady Tigers counted scores of 73 from Kim Meck, 77 from Rebecca Kuhn, 78 from Melissa Eaton and 79 from Alexis Rather. In the afternoon 18 holes, besides Meck’s 73, Rather also had 73, with Melissa Eaton at 74 and Kuhn 77.
Tennessee is the tournament leader at five-over 581 (288-293), with Georgia at seven over 583. The two teams have separated themselves from the field at Virginia is third at 15-over 591, followed by Vanderbilt, Auburn and North Carolina State at 16-over 592. Wake Forest joins the Tigers in the tie for seventh place.
Nicole Smith of Tennessee is the individual leader at two-under 142 after back-to-back rounds of 71.
“It was difficult not having a complete practice round, but everyone was in that same situation,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “We couldn’t make a putt early and we just didn’t look sharp coming out on the course. But I was pleased with how the girls battled back in the second round. We’ll come out and try to improve on Monday.”
Live scoring for the final round Monday can be found at www.golfstat.com.
College of Charleston Cougar Classic
Yeamans Hall — Par 72
Team Results (Par 288-576)
1. Tennessee 288-293 — 581 +5; 2. Georgia 292-291 — 583 +7; 3. Virginia 301-290 — 591 +15; 4. Vanderbilt 306-286 — 592 +16; 4. Auburn 307-285 — 592 +16; 4. North Carolina State 300-292 — 592 +16; 7. LSU 306-297 — 603 +27; 7. Wake Forest 300-303 — 603 +27; 9. Maryland 299-305 — 604 +28; 10. North Carolina 311-294 — 605 +29; Furman 310-295 — 605 +29; 12. Charleston 306-301 — 607 +31; 12. Richmond 304-304 — 607 +31; 14. Florida State 310-304 — 614 +38; 15. Miami 312-306 — 618 +42; 16. Ole Miss 307-312 – 619 +43; 17. South Florida 315-305 — 620 +44.
Individual Top 5 (Par 72-144)
1. Nicole Smith, Tennessee, 71-71 — 142 -2; 2. Angie Hill, Charleston, 71-72 –143 -1; 2. Whtiney Wade, Georgia, 71-72 — 143 -1; 2. Leah Wigger, Virginia, 73-70 — 143 -1; 5. Taylor Leon, Georgia, 72-72 — 144 E; 5. Lauren Mielbrecht, Virginia, 74-70 — 144 E.
LSU Scores
T10. Kim Meck 73-73 — 146 +2
T35. Melissa Eaton 78-74 — 152 +8
T35. Alexis Rather 79-73 — 152 +8
T50. Rebecca Kun 77-77 — 154 +10
T75. Nicola Eaton 78-80 — 158 +14