DUBLIN, Ohio — LSU had two good rounds and finds itself in sixth place after the first day of the low-scoring Lady Buckeye Spring Invitational at the Golf Course of Dublin Saturday.
LSU posted rounds of five-over 293 and 12-over 300 to stand at 593, 17-over par entering Sunday morning’s final round of the 54-hole event that will conclude LSU’s regular season play.
SEC Champion Auburn has continued where they left off last week in Franklin, Tenn., at the championships posting rounds of even par 288 and then a spectacular eight-under round of 280 to lead by 15 shots with an eight-under total of 568. Purdue is second at 583 (seven over), followed by Florida (584), defending champion Michigan State (587) and Kent State in fifth at 589, four shots ahead of LSU.
South African junior Melissa Eaton continues her strong play for the Tigers as she bids for another top 10 finish. She posted rounds of one under 71 in the morning and 75 in the afternoon for a 36-hole total of two-over 146, good enough for a tie for 10th place. SEC individual champion Maria Martinez of Auburn posted rounds of 69-67 to lead the competition at eight-under 136, three shots ahead of teammate Nicole Hage (71-69).
LSU sophomore Rebecca Kuhn is tied for 13th after rounds of 72-75 — 147 and Kim Meck, another Lady Tiger sophomore is tied for 17th at 148 after rounds of 75-73.
“It was a good day for us out there,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “We had the chance to go even lower, but we did a lot of nice things on the course (Saturday) and now we just need to put that together for three consecutive rounds and finish well on Sunday.”
LSU tees off in the shotgun start at 7:30 a.m. Sunday morning.
Lady Buckeye Spring Invite
Team Results (Par 288-576)
1. Auburn 288-280 — 568 -8; 2. Purdue 287-296 — 593 +7; 3. Florida 289-295 — 584 +8; 4. Michigan State 290-297 — 587 +11; 5. Kent State 287-302 — 589 +13; 6. LSU 293-300 — 593 +17; 7. Penn State 295-301 — 596 +20; 8. Ohio State 297-301 — 598 +22; 9. Wisconsin 306-299 — 605 +29; 9. Northwestern 300-305 — 605 +29; 11. Georgia State 304-304 — 607 +31; 12. Indiana 306-307 — 613 +37; 13. Illinois 305-309 — 614 +38; 14. Ohio State Gray 308-309 — 617 +41; 15. Minnesota 321-315 — 636 +60.
Individual Top 5 (Par 72-144)
1. Maria Martinez, Auburn, 69-67 — 136 -8; 2. Nicole Hage, Auburn, 71-69 — 140 -4; 3. Sandra Gal, Florida, 71-70 — 141 -3; 4. O. Sattayabanphot, Purdue, 71-73 — 144 E; 4. Christina Boeljon, Purdue, 71-73 — 144 E.
LSU Scores
T10. Melissa Eaton 71-75 — 146 +2
T13. Rebecca Kuhn 72-75 — 147 +3
T17. Kim Meck 75-73 — 148 +4
T42. Caroline Martens 75-77 — 152 +8
T48. Alexis Rather 75-78 — 153 +9