BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Junior Chris Wells and sophomore Beck Troutman each fired a 3-under par 69 in the first round Monday to give the LSU men’s golf team an early lead at the inaugural Shoal Creek Intercollegiate at Shoal Creek Country Club.
Wells and Troutman are in a four-way tie for first place by one shot, while the Tigers also lead by a shot over Tennessee after posting a 4-under 284 in the first round.
“It rained four inches over night and the course played long today,” said LSU head coach Chuck Winstead. “The guys played in drizzle or light rain for the better part of the morning, and they played well despite the conditions. I couldn’t be prouder of this team.”
Senior Andrew Lanahan is currently in a tie for 12th place with an even-par 72, while sophomore Brent Struthers shot a 2-over 74 to sit in a tie for 31st and freshman Jarrod Barsamian is in a tie for 63rd with a 6-over 78.
“As a unit, they showed what type of potential they’re capable of,” Winstead said. “Clearly, this is a solid field. They are playing against a tough field on one of the best golf courses in America, and they showed their potential out there today.”
Behind the Tigers and Volunteers in third place is Georgia State with an even-par 288, and Alabama and Florida are in a tie for fourth with a 2-over 290. Cole Isban of Notre Dame and Gareth Shaw of East Tennessee State are tied for the lead with Wells and Troutman, while Tennessee’s Jonathan Mount and Chris Paisley are tied for fifth with a 2-under 70.
The 15-team field completed approximately 16 holes in the second round before play was suspended due to darkness. The Tigers will play the remainder of the second round and the final round Tuesday beginning at 9:15 a.m.
“Each guy on the team has the ability to go out there tomorrow and win this golf tournament,” Winstead said. “Our goal tomorrow is to exactly what we did today — just play our game and for our players to be themselves. If we do that then we can win this tournament.”
After returning from the Shoal Creek Intercollegiate, LSU travels to Old Memorial Golf Club in Tampa, Fla., to compete in the Gary Koch/Cleveland Golf Invitational hosted by Kentucky.
SHOAL CREEK INTERCOLLEGIATE — FIRST ROUND RESULTS
TEAM SCORES (Par 288)
1. LSU 284 -4; 2. Tennessee 285 -3; 3. Georgia State 288 E; t4. Alabama 290 +2; t4. Florida 290 +2; 6. Notre Dame 291 +3; 7. East Tennessee State 294 +6; t8. Florida State 295 +7; t8. UAB 295 +7; 10. SMU 297 +9; 11. N.C. State 298 +10; 12. North Florida 299 +11; 13. Central Florida 300 +12; 14. Toledo 302 +14; 15. Birmingham-Southern 312 +24
TOP FIVE INDIVIDUALS (Par 72)
t1. Chris Wells, LSU, 37-32 — 69 -3; t1. Beck Troutman, LSU, 35-34 — 69 -3; t1. Cole Isban, Notre Dame, 34-35 — 69 -3; t1. Gareth Shaw, East Tennessee State, 33-36 — 69 -3; t5. Jonathan Mount, Tennessee, 34-36 — 70 -2; t5. Chris Paisley, Tennessee, 34-36 — 70 -2
LSU SCORES
t1. Chris Wells 69 -3
t1. Beck Troutman 69 -3
t12. Andrew Lanahan 72 E
t31. Brent Struthers 74 +2
t63. Jarrod Barsamian 78 +6