KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — LSU freshman Megan McChrystal posted her first collegiate top 10 Sunday, shooting an even-par round of 71 to help LSU to their best round of the weekend as the Mercedes-Benz Championships came to an end at the Cherokee Country Club.
McChrystal, of Stuart, Fla., posted rounds of 72-73-71 to finish at 3-over 216, good enough for a tie for 10th place in the individual competition. Sandra Gal of Florida moved from second to a tie for first with a 70 and Cydney Clanton of Auburn rallied on the final day with a 3-under 68 to tie the individual competition at 3-under par 210. Gal won the playoff for the title.
The gave Florida a clean sweep as the Gators also captured the team championship, shooting a 4-over 288 for the second straight day to finish at 13-over par 865 (289-288-288). That was five shots to the good on Purdue at 18-over 870 (291-291-288) with Arkansas in third at 26-over 878 (285-297-296).
LSU, ranked 28th in the latest polls, moved up to spots on the final day to ninth place after shooting its best round of the weekend at 10-over 294 to go with earlier rounds of 295-299-294 to finish at 888, 36-over par.
“Overall, I thought we had a good weekend. I was very pleased with a lot of what happened in the final round. Megan and Lindy LaBauve had some good rounds for us and we are getting closer to finding the lineup that will be best for us on a consistent basis. Alexis Rather had a strong final round for us in her first tournament and now we’ll go back and spend the week getting ready for our final tournament of the fall at the end of the month. We are moving forward and I feel we are going to be just fine when we begin our spring season.”
Rather, the senior from Tupelo, Miss., had LSU’s second best round of the day with a one-over 72 to finish in a tie for 34th at 10-over 223 after rounds of 75-76-72. LaBauve had a 76 on the final day and finished in a group tied for 27th at nine over 222 (71-75-76). Rather was seventh overall in the tournament stats with 10 birdies, while LaBauve was third in the tournament with 40 pars. McChrystal was fourth with 39 pars in the three-day event.
The Lady Tigers will next be in action Oct. 26-28 at the UA/Ann Rhodes Invitational, hosted by the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa to conclude the fall season.
Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championships
Final Team Results (Par 284-852)
1. Florida 289-288-288 — 865 +13; 2. Purdue 291-291-288 — 870 +18; 3. Arkansas 285-297-296 — 878 +256; 4. Auburn 292-296-291 — 879 +27; 5. Kent State 296-297-288 — 881 +29; 6. Tennessee 288-306-289 — 883 +31; 7. Denver 293-292-300 –885 +33; 8. Virginia 294-294-298 — 886 +34; 9. LSU 295-299-294 — 888+36; 10. Alabama 288-301-300 — 889 +37; 11. Michigan State 292-301-302 — 895 +43; 11. Ohio State 298-295-302 — 895 +43; 13. North Carolina 305-299-293 — 897 +45; 14. Swedish Jr. Nationals 304-298-298 — 899 +47; 15. Furman 300-301-300 — 901 +49; 16. SMU 302-296-310 — 908 +56; 17. Central Florida 306-301-305 — 912 +60.
Individual Top 5 (Par 71-213)
1. Sandra Gal, Florida (won playoff) 69-71-70 — 210 -3; 2. Cydney Clanton, Auburn, 72-70-68 — 210 -3; 3. Caroline Hedwall, Swedish Jr. Nationals, 71-72-68 — 211 -2; 3. Stacy Lewis, Arkansas, 69-71-71 — 211 -2; 5. Kathleen Ekey, Alabama, 68-70-76 — 214 +1; 5. Blair Lamb, Furman, 72-71-71 — 214 +1; 5. Diana Cantu, Tennessee, 71-73-70 — 214 +1.
LSU Scores
T10. Megan McChrystal 72-73-71 — 216 +3
T27. Lindy LaBauve 71-75-76 — 222 +9
T34. Alexis Rather 75-76-72 — 223 +10
T57. Amalie Valle 78-75-75 — 228 +15
T75. Kim Meck 77-80-76 — 233 +20