COLUMBUS, Ohio — The fortune that had seemingly smiled like sunshine on the LSU women’s golf team over the last month, turned just a little cloudy Wednesday in the second round of the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championships at the Scarlet Course at The Ohio State University.
The LSU team scored nine strokes higher on its second round of the 72-hole tournament, a 19-over 307 to go with Tuesday’ 10-over 298 to stand at 29-over par 605. Playing in the morning wave, the Tigers appeared to be dropping down in the standings but things were much better by the end of the day as clouds and windier conditions blew in during the afternoon sending many of the team scores up the ladder as well. When the final putt was sunk late in the afternoon, LSU was still in the championship afternoon wave for Thursday’s third round, dropping only two spots from the first round to ninth place.
Arizona State followed up its four-over round on Tuesday with a six-over round of 294 to lead defending champion and No. 1 Duke by three shots at 10-over 586 to Duke’s 13-over 589. Duke improved five shots from its 297 in the opening round to a 292 on Wednesday. First day leader Southern California shot 300 and dropped two shots behind Duke at 591.
What may have been considered bad breaks started early for the Lady Tigers when Alexis Rather came down with a stomach virus and was unable to play at her best. She made it through the round, shooting an 81 before returning quickly to the team hotel to return to bed.
There may have been a perception that it wasn’t going to be LSU’s best day when freshman Caroline Martens‘ drive on the 18th hole (her ninth of the day), seemingly disappeared in the right fairway bunker despite several fans, coaches and rules officials trying to find it knowing it went in there. Martens, after the five-minute search allowed by rule, had to return back to the tee and start again with her third shot on the tricky par-four hole.
About the time she reached the tee, one of the rules officials was able to find the ball, lodged underneath the newly laid sod in the Jack Nicklaus renovation of the course against the lip of the bunker. Martens would go on to double bogey the hole.
The Lady Tigers were able to only come up with seven birdies on the day. Again Rebecca Kuhn had the most with four, to continue to top the tournament with 10 birdies in two rounds. LSU turned at six over par on holes 10-18 and played the front nine (their final nine holes) in 13 over par.
But LSU wasn’t alone in shooting higher numbers in the second round. In all, 11 teams shot scores that were higher than their first round.
“They really had to work for every shot,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen after the round. “But the biggest thing was they didn’t give up and throw in the round and that has still allowed us to be in a good position after 36 holes… Maybe Alexis being sick took the wind out of our sails. There may have tried a little too much to take up the slack for her. But the way things have worked out we are still in a very good place and there are still two days to go. We are very capable of coming back and having two very good rounds. The putts will drop again for us, I know that.”
Kim Meck had the low round of the day with a 75, with 13 pars after 15 in her 75 on Tuesday. Meck is in a group tied for 29th at 6-over 150. Kuhn is the lowest LSU player on the individual leader board at 5-over 149 after a 76 on Wednesday to go with her first round 73.
“I’m really proud of his consistent Kim Meck has been” said Bahnsen. “Rebecca (Kuhn) really worked for round (Wednesday) and that was very important for us.”
LSU, besides Meck and Kuhn, counted 78s by Martens and Melissa Eaton. For Eaton, the round was a rare misfire for the team’s number one player and her highest in the last 12 rounds for the Lady Tigers.
Eileen Vargas of Pepperdine, the first round leader after a four-under 68, followed it up with a one-under 71 to continue to lead at five-under 139.
She is four shots clear of Jennifer Osborn of Arizona State who is at one-under 143 after a one-over 71 on the day. Two other players, Tiffany Chudy of Florida and Violeta Retamoza of Tennessee, are at even par 144.
Tournament Notes
Tennessee is the leader among the SEC teams after shooting a two-over 290 on Wednesday … The Lady Vols stand fourth at 17-over 593 … The rest of the SECs find Auburn seven at 24-over, Florida eight at 25-over, LSU ninth at 29-over, Georgia 18th at 35-over, Arkansas 19th at 36-over and Alabama 24th at 48-over … Earl Stewart, the last NCAA individual champion for LSU, won the 1941 NCAA Men’s Golf Championship over this same course … That championship was played on the Scarlet Course just three years after Alister MacKenzie opened the layout that Jack Nicklaus has spent almost the last two years trying to recreate in his redesign … The LSU men’s golf team that year finished second … Rain is expected in the overnight hours and there is a 40 percent chance of rain when play resumes at 7 a.m. … The weather is expected to be better for the afternoon wave, which begins at 11:30 a.m. CDT … LSU will tee off at 12:20 p.m. CDT and will be paired in an All-SEC wave with Auburn and Florida.
NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championship 36-hole Team Results (Par 288-576)
1. Arizona State 292-294 — 586 +10; 2. Duke 297-292 — 589 +13; 3. Southern California 291-300 — 591 +15; 4. Tennessee 303-290 — 593 +17; 5. Purdue 301-295 — 596 +20; 5. Pepperdine 301-295 — 596 +20; 7. Auburn 301-298 –5 99 +23; 8. Florida 293-307 — 600 +24; 9. LSU 298-307 — 605 +29; 10. California 305-301 — 606 +30; 11. UCLA 301-306 — 607 +31; 12. Texas A&M 302-306 — 608 +32; 12. Stanford 307-301 — 608 +32; 14. Wake Forest 297-312 — 609 +33; 14. Washington 305-304 — 609 +33; 16. Oklahoma State 311-299 — 610 +34; 16. Florida State 305-305 — 610 +34; 18. Georgia 306-305 — 611 +35; 19. Arkansas 299-313 — 612 +36; 20. UNLV 313-301 — 614 +38; 21. Arizona 296-319 –615 +39; 22. Nebraska 311-305 — 616 +40; 23. Kent State 312-307 — 619 +43; 24. Alabama 307-317 — 624 +48.
Top 10 Individuals (Par 72-144)
1. Eileen Vargas, Pepperdine 68-71 — 139 -5; 2. Jennifer Osborn, Arizona State, 70-73 — 143 -1; 3. Tiffany Chudy, Florida, 69-75 –144 E; 3. Violeta Retamoza, Tennessee, 75-69 — 144 E; 5. Jennie Lee, Duke, 73-72 — 145 +1; 5. Onnarin Sattayabanphot, Purdue, 74-71 — 145 +1; 5. Abigale Schepperle, Auburn, 74-71 — 145 +1; 5. Jennifer Tangtiphalboontana, Stanford, 74-71 — 145 +1; 5. Tiffany Tavee, Arizona State, 73-72 –1 45 +1; 10. Irene Cho, Southern California, 73-73 — 146 +2; 10. Sandra Gai, Florida, 74-72 — 146 +2.
LSU Scores
T22. Rebecca Kuhn 73-76 — 149 +5
T29. Kim Meck 75-75 — 150 +6
T62. Melissa Eaton 75-78 — 153 +9
T62. Caroline Martens 75-78 — 153 +9
T106. Alexis Rather 78-81 — 159 +15