ATHENS, Ga. — LSU senior golfer Melissa Eaton fired a two-over par round of 73 Saturday to remain in first place after 36 holes of the Liz Murphey Collegiate women’s golf tournament at the University of Georgia Golf Course.
Eaton, whose best previous finish was as runnerup at the 2006 LSU/Cleveland Golf Classic as a junior, stands at one-over par 143 after rounds of 70-73 in the three-day event which concludes with an 8 a.m. CDT shotgun start on Sunday.
Eaton, one of the twin players with her sister Nicola on the LSU team from South Africa, is one shot ahead of Leah Wigger of Virginia who is two-over par 144 after back-to-back rounds of 72. Four other golfers are tied for third at three-over par 145.
In the team competition, Auburn remains comfortably in the lead with a two-day total of 24-over 592 after rounds of 293 and 299. The top-ten ranked Auburn team is five shots ahead of Arkansas at 29-over 597 with Florida at 598 and Wake Forest and Virginia at 599 each.
LSU as a team dropped back into a tie for 10th at 39-over 607 after a 22-over round of 306 after Friday’s first round 301.
Besides Eaton’s two-over 73, Alexis Rather came up with a four-over 75, but the Tigers struggled for a third and fourth counting score as both Rebecca Kuhn and Caroline Martens both shot eight-over 79s.
“Mel is really playing some good golf and has a great chance if she will keep her focus and stay in the moment,” said LSU women’s golf coach Karen Bahnsen. “She needs to play the course and not worry about what anyone else is doing and let it come to her. Our team needs to rally around her and do the same thing and get us a good team score to go home on.”
Live scoring of the final round will be available at www.golfstat.com.
Liz Murphey Collegiate
Second Round Team Results (284-568)
1. Auburn 293-299 — 592 +24; 2. Arkansas 300-297 — 597 +29; 3. Florida 300-298 — 598 +30; 4. Wake Forest 307-292 — 599 +31; 4. Virginia 303-296 — 599 +31; 6. South Caorlina 302-300 — 602 +34; 7. Georgia 303-300 — 603 +35; 7. Purdue 304-299 — 603 +35; 7. Alabama 302-301 — 603 +35; 10. Michigan State 297-310 — 607 +39; 10 LSU 301-306 — 607 +39; 12. Florida State 312-302 — 614 +46; 13. Kent State 314-310 — 624 +56; 14. Furman 312-314 — 626 +%8; 15. Central Florida 319-308 — 627 +59; 16. Miss. State 314-315 — 629 +61; 17. Augusta State 314-325 — 639 +71; 18. Georgia State 331-312 — 643 +75.
Individual Top 5 (Par 71-142)
1. Melissa Eaton, LSU, 70-73 — 143 +1; 2. Leah Wigger, Virginia, 72-72 — 144 +2; 3. Helena Blomberg, Alabama, 74-71 — 145 +3; 3. Maria Hernandez, Purdue, 72-73 — 145 +3; 3. Jenna Pearson, South Carolina, 74-71 — 145 +3; 3. Caroline Westrup, Florida State, 72-74 –145 +3.
LSU Scores
1. Melissa Eaton 70-73 — 143 +1
T26. Alexis Rather 76-75 — 151 +9
T61. Rebecca Kuhn 79-79 — 158 +16
T61. Kim Meck 76-82 — 158 +16
T79. Caroline Martens 84-79 — 163 +21