BROWNS SUMMITT, N.C. — The LSU women’s golf team improved its score in the final round of the Bryan National Collegiate and moved up to 12th place in the final regular season golf event of the spring season Sunday at the Bryan National Golf Course.
The weekend proved to be a struggle at times for the Lady Tigers in the wind and cold as they finished 65-over par with rounds of 311-314-304 for a three-day total of 929. Purdue ended up the winner of the tournament, rallying on the final day with a six-over 294 to finish at 23-over par 887, seven shots better than second-round leader Florida at 894. North Carolina was three more shots back in third at 33-over with Duke at 34-over par 898.
Sandra Gal of Florida and Maria Hernandez of Purdue both finished at one-under par 215 with Hernandez winning the individual title on the third hole of sudden death.
Rebecca Kuhn got her game turned around on Sunday to lead the Lady Tigers in the final round with a two-over score of 74, the best individual round of the weekend for an LSU player. LSU also counted a 76 from Alexis Rather, a 77 from Melissa Eaton and an 81 from Kim Meck. Eaton finished at 231, a tie for 39th, at 15-over par.
“We need to get back home and prepare for the SECs,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “The conditions didn’t help us and we have to be ready for that, but we feel good with our situation heading for SECs and the regionals. We just need to work hard to prepare to be focused on our objectives to get four scores together in the same round.”
The Lady Tigers will take part in the Southeastern Conference Women’s Golf Championships at the Old Waverly Course in West Point, Miss., scheduled for April 20-22.
Bryan National Collegiate
Final Team Totals (288-864)
1. Purdue 290-303-294 — 887 +23; 2. Florida 298-294-302 — 894 +30; 3. North Carolina 291-309-297 — 897 +33; 4. Duke 292-301-305 — 898 +34; 5. Tennessee 305-312-286 — 903 +39; 6. Georgia 303-310-295 — 908 +44; 7. Auburn 301-315-300 — 916 +52; 8. South Carolina 297-310-310 — 917 +53; 9. Ohio State 307-312-301 — 920 +56; 10. Virginia 300-319-304 — 923 +59; 11. Furman 308-316-300 — 924 +60; 12. LSU 311-314-304 — 929 +65; 13. Wake Forest 309-312-311 — 932 +68; 14. Florida State 309-315-312 — 936 +72; 15. NC-Greensboro 316-315-308 — 939 +75; 16. NC-Wilmington 306-320-314 — 940 +76; 17. North Carolina State 314-318-309 — 941 +77; 18. Charleston 312-333-312 — 957 +93
Individual Top 5 (Par 72-216)
1. Maria Hernandez, Purdue 71-73-71 — 215 -1 (wins playoff on third hole); 1. Sandra Gal, Florida, 72-74-69 — 215 -1; 3. Blair Lamb, Furman, 70-76-70 — 216 E; 4. Lauren Hunt, North Carolina, 74-75-69 — 218 +2; 4. Marci Turner, Tennessee, 73-77-68 — 218 +2.
LSU Scores
T39. Melissa Eaton 77-77-77 — 231 +15
T47. Kimberly Meck 77-76-81 — 234 +18
T57. Rebecca Kuhn 81-81-74 — 236 +20
T62. Caroline Martens 76-84-77 — 237 +21
T62. Alexis Rather 81-80-76 — 237 +21