TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The 26th-ranked LSU Lady Tigers golf team survived some shaky first-round moments to stand eighth after the first round of a fairly high-scoring UA-Ann Rhodes Intercollegiate at the Northriver Golf Course here Friday.
LSU posted a score of 20-over 304 over the par 71 course and stands just nine shots off the lead of sixth-ranked Arkansas at 11-over par 295. Arkansas is two shots ahead of Louisville at 13-over 297 and there is one more shot back to Notre Dame at 14-over par.
The Lady Tigers had some moments where high scores prevailed, counting five scores of double bogey or worse against six counting birdies but it was the theme of the round for just about all the teams, including the fifth-ranked hosts from Alabama who finished the first round at 29-over par and in 15th place in the 18-team field.
“We had a few holes almost get away from us,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “It was just a case of a few swings here and there on a course that has some tricky spots that can be very difficult. We were very close. We just need to eliminate a few things and come out (Saturday) and not worry about what happened Friday. We haven’t shot ourselves out of a good finish and that’s exactly what we would like to walk away from here with.”
LSU’s Norweigan duo of junior Carolina Martens and freshman Amalie Valle led the Lady Tigers on the day as Martens posted a round of two-over 73 and Valle posted a round of three-over 74. Martens stand just outside the top 10 after one day in a tie for 10th with Valle in a group inside the top 20 in a tie for 16th. Arkansas’s Stacy Lewis is the day one individual leader of the tournament at three-under 68, one shot better than Furman’s Stefanie Kenoyer at 69.
The Lady Tigers also counted a six-over 77 from senior Alexis Rather and a nine-over 80 from freshman Megan McChrystal.
The second round of the 54-hole tournament is set for Saturday morning and live scoring for the event can be found at www.golfstat.com.
UA-Ann Rhoads Intercollegiate
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
First-Round Team Results (Par 71-284)
1. Arkansas 295 +11; 2. Louisville 297 +13; 3. Notre Dame 298 +14; 4. Furman 299 +15; 5. South Carolina 300 +16; 6. Auburn 301 +17; 7. Central Florida 303 +19; 8. LSU 304 +20; 9. Ole Miss 305 +21; 10. Florida 307 +23; 10. Texas 307 +23; 12. Northwestern 308 +24; 13. Kentucky 309 +25; 14. Mississippi State 311 +27; 15. Alabama 313 +29; 16. Kansas 317 +33; 17. Florida State 318 +34; 18. Samford 332 +48.
Individual Top 5 (Par 71)
1. Stacy Lewis, Arkansas 68 -3; 2. Stefanie Kenoyver, Furman, 69 -2; 3. Cindy LaCrosse, Louisville, 70 -1; 4. Whitney Simons, South Carolina 71 E; 4. Sarah Thead, Auburn, 71 E; 4. Mayule Thominmbang, Central Florida, 71 E.
LSU Scores
T10. Caroline Martens 73 +2
T16. Amalie Valle 74 +3
T36. Alexis Rather 77 +6
T65. Megan McChrystal 80 +9
T76. Lindy LaBauve 81 +10