ATHENS, Ga. — LSU’s Melissa Eaton posted the 10th Top-10 finish of her career Sunday, finishing tied for sixth Sunday in the conclusion of the Liz Murphey Collegiate at the University of Georgia Golf Course.
Eaton, a senior from South Africa, had the lead on Friday and Saturday after rounds of 70 and 73 on the par 71 newly renovated Georgia course, but Eaton couldn’t get any birdie putts to fall, posting five bogeys in the final round to shoot five-over 76 in the last 18 holes of the 54 tournament to finish at six-over par 219 (70-73-76).
She was four shots out of the winning individual score of two-over shot by both Maria Hernandez of Purdue and Leah Wigger of Virginia. Hernandez was two shots back and posted a two-under 70 to finish at two-over 215 (72-73-70) with Wigger shooting even par 71 and two-over 215 after rounds of 72-72-71.
In the playoff, Wigger birdied the playoff hole to win the individual championship. Sandra Gal of Florida and Caroline Westrup of Florida State posted three-over scores and Jenna Pearson of South Carolina finished at five-over 218.
Auburn posted a five-over 289 in the final round to complete a wire-to-wire run in the top spot to win the title at 29-over par 881, 11 shots better than Florida at 892. LSU posted a 20-over par 304 to finish at 59-over par (306-301-304) 911 in the 18-team field.
Besides Eaton’s score, the Tigers counted a team-best 75 from Alexis Rather, another 76 from Caroline Martens and a 77 from Kim Meck.
LSU has one more regular season event, April 6-8 at the Bryan Park National Collegiate, where LSU finished second in last year’s regional event.
Liz Murphey Collegiate
Final Team Results (Par 284-852)
1. Auburn 293-299-289 — 881 +29; 2. Florida 300-298-294 — 892 +40; 3. Arkansas 300-297-300 — 897 +45; 4. Alabama 302-301-295 — 898 +46; 5. Purdue 304-299-299 — 902 +50; 6. Virginia 303-296-306 — 905 +53; 7. Wake Forest 307-292-307 — 906 +54; 8. Georgia 303-300-304 — 907 +55; 9. South Carolina 302-300-307 — 907 +57; 10. Florida State 312-302-296 — 910 +58; 11. LSU 301-306-304 — 911 +59; 12. Michigan State 297-301-309 — 916 +64; 13. Central Florida 319-308-300 — 927 +75; 13. Kent State 314-310-303 — 927 +75; 15. Miss. State 314-315-304 — 933 +81; 16. Furman 312-314-311 — 937 +85; 17. Georgia State 331-312-317 — 960 +108; 18. Augusta State 314-325-316 — 965 +113.
Final Individual Top 5 Results (Par 71-213)
1. Leah Wigger, Virginia (wins playoff on first hole) 73-73-70 — 215 +2; 2. Maria Hernandez, Purdue, 72-73-70 –215 +2; 3. Sandra Gal, Florida, 74-73-69 — 216 +3; 3. Caroline Westrup, Florida State, 72-73-71 — 216 +3; 5. Jenna Pearson, Souther Carolina, 74-71-73 — 218 +5.
LSU Scores
T6. Melissa Eaton 70-73-76 — 219 +6
T24. Alexis Rather 76-75-75 — 226 +13
T56. Kim Meck 76-82-77 — 235 +22
T67. Rebecca Kuhn 79-79-79 — 237 +24
70. Caroline Martens 84-79-76 — 239 +26