KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The 28th-ranked LSU women’s golf team posted an even par back nine score as a team to post an 11-over round of 295 after the first round of the Mercedes-Benz Championships Friday at the par 71 Cherokee Country Club.
Freshman Lindy LaBauve posted an even par round of 71 and is a group tied for ninth place after the first round of the 54-hole event. Kathleen Ekey of Alabama is the leader in the individual competition at three-under 68, ahead of five golfers at two-under 69.
LSU’s 295 is in 10th place in the 17-team field, led by Alabama at Arkansas at one-over par 285, three shots ahead of defending champion Alabama and host Tennessee at four-over par 288. Florida is fourth at five-over 289.
LSU counted 11 bogeys and a double with only two birdies on the par 35 front nine that features three par threes and two par five holes before turning to the back nine and turning a round in the right way with eight birdies.
LaBauve’s round featured one bogey on the front side and a birdie on the 10th hole with 16 pars for her even par effort.
Another LSU freshman, Megan McChrystal, posted a one-over par 72 and is tied for 18th after day one. McChrystal came out with a bogey on the first hole, then parred the next 10 holes before bogeying the 12th hole. But McChrystal had two birdies and just one more bogeys to post the one-over score.
LSU also counted the scores of its two seniors in the lineup, a 75 from Alexis Rather and a 77 from Kim Meck.
“I was really pleased with the way the team performed, especially on the final nine holes,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “That was a round we could have lost our composure with the way we started, but they didn’t dwell on what had happened in the round and really came home strong and focused. I like where we are after the first day and hopefully we can come back out Saturday and play forward from this point.”
The second round is scheduled for Saturday morning and live scoring is available at www.golfstat.com.
Mercedes-Benz Championships
First Round Team Results (Par 284)
1. Arkansas 285 +1; 2. Alabama 288 +4; 2. Tennessee 288 +4; 4. Florida 289 +5; 5. Purdue 291 +7; 6. Auburn 292 +8; 6. Michigan State 292 +8; 8. Denver 293 +9; 9. Virginia 294 +10; 10. LSU 295 +11; 11. Kent State 296 +12; 12. Ohio State 298 +14; 13. Furman 300 +16; 14. Southern Methodist 302 +18; 15. Swedish Jr. Nationals 304 +20; 16. North Carolina 305 +21; 17. Central Florida 306 +22.
Individual Top 5 (Par 71)
1. Kathleen Ekey, Alabama, 68 -3; 2. Sandra Gal, Florida, 69 -2; 2. Junthima Gulyanamitta, Purdue, 69 -2; 2. Laura Kueny, Michigan State, 69 -2; 2. Stacy Lewis, Arkansas, 69 -2; 2. Lucy Nunn, Arkansas, 69 -2.
LSU Scores
T9. Lindy LaBauve 71 E
T18. Megan McChrystal 72 +1
T40. Alexis Rather 75 +4
T58. Kim Meck 77 +6
T70. Amalie Valle 78 +7