SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Freshman Megan McChrystal and senior Alexis Rather both shot 3-under par 69s Monday to help the No. 27 LSU women’s golf team move to second, one shot out of the team lead going into Tuesday’s final round of the Lady Puerto Rico Classic at the Coco Beach Golf Club and Resort.
The pair helped the Lady Tigers to the second-lowest round on the course at 2-over par 290 to stand at 11-over 587 after 36 holes of the 54-hole event that concludes on Tuesday. LSU is one shot back of Kent State which went around the entire field to the top spot with a 1-under 287 that leaves the Golden Flashes at 10-over 586.
After LSU in second is Arkansas, two shots back at 13-over 589 with first-round co-leader Alabama in fourth at 14-over 590. The other co-leader, TCU, is at 17-over 593.
McChrystal stands in a tie for sixth place after 36 holes in the individual competition as her third under par round of the year puts her at even-par 144 (75-69). Rather moved up 42 spots on the leader board from the first round with her first under par round of the season at 2-over 146 (77-69) to stand in a group tied for ninth place.
LSU also counted 4-over 76s from Amalie Valle and Caroline Martens. Valle is in position for a top 20 finish with a 5-over 149 with rounds of 73-76.
Stacy Lewis of Arkansas remains the individual competition leader at 6-under par 138 after rounds of 68 and 70.
“We’re doing a good job of putting together the scores we need to make ourselves competitive in this event,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “The girls are really enjoying playing such a good course and it’s showing in how they are playing. There was no wind today, but we had several sudden downpours that would come up and then go away. But we stayed very focused and we’ve got a chance to finish up with a big round (Tuesday). We are enjoying it for now and then we go out and do what we need to do.”
Lady Puerto Rico Classic
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Round 2 Team Scores (Par 288-576)
1. Kent State 299-287 ? 587 +10; 2. LSU 297-290 ? 587 +11; 3. Arkansas 296-293 ? 589 +13; 4. Alabama 293-297 ? 590 +14; 5. TCU 293-300 ? 593 +17; 6. South Carolina 299-295 ? 594 +18; 7. Florida State 296-299 ? 595 +19; 8. Purdue 299-298 ? 597 +21; 9. Georgia 298-301 ? 599 +23; 9. Tennessee 299-300 ? 599 +23; 11. Michigan 302-308 ? 610 +34; 11. UCF 297-313 ? 610 ++ 34; 13. North Carolina State 308-303 ? 611 +35; 14. Oklahoma 308-304 ? 612 +36; 15. Texas Tech 302-313 ? 615 +39; 16. Wisconsin 313-313 ? 626 +50; 17. Iowa State 316-312 ? 628 +52; 18. Minnesota 315-326 ? 641 +65
Individual Top 5 (Par 72-144)
1. Stacy Lewis, Arkansas, 68-70 ? 138 -6; 2. Caroline Westrup, Florida State, 70-71 — 141 -3; 2. Kira Meixner, Kent State, 70-71 ? 141 -3; 4. Valentine Derrey, TCU, 71-71 ? 142 -2; Benedicte Toumpsin, South Carolina, 74-68 ? 142 -2.
LSU Scores
T6. Megan McChrystal 75-69 ? 144 E
T9. Alexis Rather 77-69 ? 146 +2
T19. Amalie Valle 73-76 ? 149 +5
T34. Caroline Martens 75-76 ? 151 +7
T47. Rebecca Kuhn 74-79 ? 153 +9