ATHENS, Ga. — The 19th-ranked Lady Tigers golf team of LSU showed their latest move up the rankings was no fluke by posting a 9-over-par 296 to take the first round lead in the prestigious Liz Murphey Collegiate women’s golf event Friday at the University of Georgia golf course.
The Lady Tigers, moving from 23rd to 19 in the Golfstat rankings and up to 20 on the Golfweek/Sagarin performance chart after their second place finish in front of several higher ranked teams at the LSU/Cleveland Golf Classic, took advantage of a three-under par 69 by freshman Megan McChrystal to get to the top of the leader board, taking advantage of an early tee time in the first round.
McChrystal is the individual leader after 18 holes of the 54-hole event that runs through Sunday and it was her second straight under par round after shooting 71 in the final round of the LSU/Cleveland Classic. McChrystal was one of just two players to break part on the par 72 course with Stephanie Connelly of Central Florida at one-under par 71.
LSU also counted a 75 from Caroline Martens, a 76 from Alexis Rather and a 77 from Rebecca Kuhn, who held the team in position after starting her round plus-5 in the first three holes.
LSU is up five shots over Alabama, Georgia and Purdue at 14-over 302 with Kent State at 303 along with Auburn. Arkansas is seventh at 305.
“I can’t tell you how pleased I was with the girls today,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “They really hung in the round and was able to grind it out hole by hole and Megan’s strong finish has us in a nice position. It’s a long way to go, but to come off the way we finished at the LSU-Cleveland Classic and then come back and start this tournament this way shows the type of team we are developing into. It’s still just one round and now the thing will be is to continue this (Saturday) and the next day.”
The Tournament resumes on Saturday morning with tee times beginning at 8 a.m. Live scoring for the competition can be found at www.golfstat.com.
Liz Murphey Collegiate
Team Results (Par 288)
1. LSU 297 +9; 2. Alabama 302 +14; 2. Georgia 302 +14; 2. Purdue 302 +14; 5. Kent State 303 +15; 5. Auburn 303 +15; 7. Arkansas 305 +17; 8. Tennessee 309 +21; 8. Wake Forest 309 +21; 10. Duke 314 +26; 10. Virginia 314 +26; 12. Central Florida 315 +27; 13. South Carolina 316 +28; 13. Vanderbilt 316 +28; 15. Florida State 317 +29; 15. Texas A&M 317. +29; 17. Furman 318 +30; 19. Kentucky 339 +51.
Individual Top 5 (par 72)
1. Megan McChrystal 69 -3: 2. Stephanie Connelly, Central Florida, 71 -1; 3. Candica Shepperle, Auburn, 72 E; 4. Liebelei Lawrence, Vanderbilt, 73 +1; 5. Six players at 74 +2.
LSU Scores
1. Megan McChrystal 69 -3
T11. Caroline Martens 75 +3
T23. Alexis Rather 76 +4
T32. Rebecca Kuhn 77 +5
T51, Lindy LaBauve 80 +8