FRANKLIN, Tenn. — The LSU women’s golf team completed a busy week of play to open their 2006-07 season with an 11th place finish in the Mason Rudolph Women’s Championships at the Ironhorse Course of the Vanderbilt Legends Club Sunday.
The 19th-ranked Lady Tigers posted their highest round of the early season, a 14-over 302, in the final round in a tournament highlighted by plenty of low scores. LSU finished at 32-over par with rounds of 298-296-302 for a 54-hole total of 902.
Duke, the two-time defending champions, had a seven-shot lead at the start of the day, but posted its worst round of the event, an eight-over 296, but still won the event with a one-under total of 863, three-shots better than Georgia at two-over 866. UCLA finished third at eight-over 872.
LSU senior Melissa Eaton‘s bid for a second consecutive top 10 finish slid away on the final nine holes after turning at even for the day, posting a five-over 41 en route to a five-over 77. Eaton finished the 54 holes at four-over 220 (70-73-77), good enough for a tie for 24th in the individual competition.
Alison Walshe shot five-under 67 in the final round to rally to win the individual competition at six-under 210 (71-72-67).
LSU in the final round also counted a two-over 74 from Nicola Eaton, a three-over 75 from Kim Meck and 76 from Rebecca Kuhn. Alexis Rather, like Melissa Eaton, also posted a five-over 77.
“We learned a lot about our team during this week of golf,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “We come home and we’ll work hard on our mistakes and get ready for the next event.”
LSU returns to play, Oct. 6-8, at the Lady Tar Heel in North Carolina.
Mason Rudolph Championship
Final Team Results (288-864)
1. Duke 283-284-296 — 863 -1; 2. Georgia 280-294-292 — 866 +2; 3. UCLA 287-289-296 — 872 +8; 4. Arizona 292-296-287 — 875 +11; 5. Purdue 298-294-289 — 881 +16; 6. Stanford 291-291-301 — 883 +19; 7. Wake Forest 300-287-297 — 884 +20; 7. Virginia 293-295-296 — 844 +20; 9. Oklahoma State 299-288-298 — 885 +21; 10. Vanderbilt 301-297-297 — 895 +31; 11. LSU 298-296-302 — 896 +32; 12. Arkansas 300-306-296 — 902 +38; 13. Missouri 304-301-300 — 905 +41; 14. Alabama 305-302-304 — 911 +47; 15. High Point 325-315-317 — 957 +93.
Final Individual Top 5 (Par 72-216)
1. Alison Walshe, Arizona 71-72-67 — 210 -6; 2. Garrett Phillips, Georgia, 70-71-71 — 212; 3. Taylor Leon, Georgia, 69-72-72 — 213 -3; 4. Tiffany Joh, Arizona, 69-69-76 — 214 -2; 4. Jennie Lee, Duke, 71-67-76 — 214 -2.
LSU Scores
T24. Melissa Eaton 70-73-77 — 220 +4
T36. Kim Meck 77-72-75 — 224 +8
T38. Nicola Eaton 74-77-74 — 225 +9
T50. Rebecca Kuhn 78-75-76 — 229 +13
T55. Alexis Rather 77-76-77 — 230 +14