FRANKLIN, Tenn. — LSU’s Melissa Eaton remained in contention for a second straight top 10 finish in a week by posting a one-over par 73 in the second round of the Mason Rudolph Women’s Championships here Saturday at the Ironhorse Course of the Vanderbilt Legends Club.
Eaton had a chance to post a second consecutive under par round to go with Friday’s two-under 70, but the hole that has provided plenty of adventures for her in the last two seasons, provided more on Saturday. After eagling the par-five 18th on Friday, she was unable to get a break on the hole and had to settle for a double-bogey seven, putting her from one-under to one over for the day.
For the tournament she stands at 143 (70-73), one-under par for 36 holes and in a tie for seventh place in an event in which 13 players are at even par or better. Two players — Tiffany Joh of UCLA and Jennie Lee of Duke are tied for the individual lead at six-under par 138.
LSU as a team improved its second round total by two shots to an eight-over 296, but actually fell in the standings to 10th place after 36 holes. LSU has rounds of 298-296 to stand at 18-over par 594. Duke posted a round of four under 284 to take charge of the tournament after 36 holes at nine-under 567. The two-time defending national champions, who will play in Baton Rouge in March in the LSU/Cleveland Golf Classic, leads Georgia at two-under 574 with UCLA third at even par 576.
On the day, LSU also counted a team-best even par round of 72 by Kim Meck with Rebecca Kuhn posting a three-over 75 and Alexis Rather a 76. Meck is at 149 (five-over) after 36 holes, moving up 20 spots to a tie for 35th in the individual competition.
The round marked the fifth straight round for LSU under 300 this season.
The final round Sunday is scheduled to be a shotgun start for the entire field at 8:30 a.m. Live scoring for the event can be found at Golfstat.com.
Mason Rudolph Championships
Team Results (Par 288-576)
1. Duke 283-284 — 567 -9; 2. Georgia 280-294 — 574 -2; 3. UCLA 287-289 — 576 E; 4. Stanford 291-291 — 582 +6; 5. Oklahoma State 299-288 — 587 +11; Wake Forest 300-287 — 587 +11; 7. Virginia 293-295 — 588; 7. Arizona 292-296 — 588 +12; 9. Purdue 298-294 — 592 +16; 10. LSU 298-296 — 594 +18; 11. Vanderbilt 301-297 — 598 +22; 12. Missouri 304-301 — 605 +29; 13. Arkansas 300-306 — 606 +30; 14. Alabama 305-302 — 607 +31; 15. High Point 325-315 — 640 +64.
Individual Top 5 (Par 72-144)
1. Tiffany Joh, UCLA 69-69 — 138 -6; 1. Jennie Lee, Duke 71-67 — 138 -6; 3. Taylor Leon, Georgia, 69-72 — 141 -3; 3. Garrett Phillips, Georgia 70-71 — 141 -3; 3. Jennifer Tangtiphaiboontana, Stanford, 72-69 — 141 -3.
LSU Scores
T6. Melissa Eaton 70-73 — 143 -1
T35. Kim Meck 77-72 — 149 +5
T45. Nicola Eaton 74-77 — 151 +7
T52. Rebecca Kuhn 78-75 — 153 +9
T52. Alexis Rather 77-76 — 153 +9