CHARLESTON, S. C. — The LSU women’s golf team finished on a high note with its best round as the College of Charleston Cougar Classic concluded Monday with the Lady Tigers in seventh place in the field of 17.
The Lady Tigers posted a round of 6-over 294 on the final day, continuing the improvement from Sunday when LSU opened with rounds of 306 and 297. LSU finished with a 33-over score of 897.
Tennessee won the event over the par-72 Yeamans Hall course with a 6-over score of 870 (288-293-289), two shots better than Georgia (292-291-289 — 872). In fact, the first four teams were from the SEC with Vanderbilt third at 18-over 882 and Auburn fourth at 20-over 884.
“It’s obvious our conference is going to very tough this year when you look at the SEC having five of the top seven teams in the tournament, including the top four,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “We had two very good rounds and had some great scores. We just weren’t there yet for the first round, but then we kicked in and said it was time to play.”
On the final day, LSU’s best score was a spectacular 2-under round of 70 by Nicola Eaton, who posted a 5-under 31 on holes 10-18, which was played her in the shotgun format round. LSU also counter a 74 from her twin sister, Melissa, and 75s from sophomores Kim Meck and Rebecca Kuhn.
Meck finished in a tie for 15th place in the tournament with a 5-over par 54-hole total of 221 (73-73-75).
Marci Turner won the tournament by three shots after shooting a 5-under 67 on the final day to finish at 4-under par 212 (73-72-67). Whitney Wade of Georgia was second at 1-under 215 (71-72-72).
The Lady Tigers will have a couple of weeks off before participating in the Lady Tar Heel Invitational, hosted by North Carolina, Oct. 7-9.
Charleston Cougar Classic
Final Team Results (Par 288-864)
1. Tennessee 288-293-289 — 870 +6; 2. Georgia 292-291-289 — 872 +8; 3. Vanderbilt 306-286-290 — 882 +18; 4. Auburn 307-285-292 — 844 +20; 5. Virginia 301-290-295 — 886 +22; 6. North Carolina State 300-292-302 — 894 +30; 7. LSU 306-297-294 — 897 +33; 8. North Carolina 311-294-294 — 899 +35; 9. Furman 310-295-296 — 901 +37; 10. Wake Forest 300-303-303 — 906 +42; Charleston 306-301-299 — 906 +42; 12. Maryland 29-305-303 — 907 +43; 13. Richmond 304-303-309 — 916 +52; 14. Florida State 310-304-308 — 922 +58; 15. Ole Miss 307-312-306 — 925 +61; 16. South Florida 315-305-309 — 929 +65; Miami 312-306-311 — 929 +65.
Individual Top 5 (Par 72-216)
1. Marci Turner, Tennessee, 73-72-67 — 212 -4; 2. Whitney Wade, Georgia, 71-72-72 — 215 -1; 3. Mallory Hetzel, Georgia, 71-74-72 — 217 +1; 3. Taylor Leon, Georgia, 71-74-72 — 217 +1; 3. Leah Wigger, Virginia, 73-70-74 — 217 +1.
LSU Scores
T15. Kim Meck 73-73-75 — 221 +6
T35. Melissa Eaton 78-74-74 — 226 +11
T42. Nicola Eaton 78-80-70 — 228 +13
T42. Alexis Rather 79-73-76 — 228 +13
T48. Rebecca Kuhn 77-77-75 — 229 +14