KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The 16th-ranked LSU women’s golf team came out with a solid start Friday as senior Caroline Martens and sophomore Megan McChrystal posted under par rounds in the Mercedes-Benz Women’s College Championship at the Fox Den Country Club.
LSU posted a three-over par 291 and stands in fourth place after the first day of the 54-hole event. Martens, playing her first round of the season, and McChrystal, picking up from last year where as a freshman she posted the fourth lowest season average in women’s golf history at LSU, each shot one-under par 71s to stand in ninth place in the individual competition.
Host Tennessee came out of the gate well to shoot a five-under par score of 283, the only team under par in the first round of the event. North Carolina is second at one-over 289 and it is one more shot back to North Carolina State at two-over 290, just in front of LSU. It is three shots back behind the Tigers to fifth place Furman at six-over 294.
Sydney Crane of North Carolina, Lauren Doughtie of North Carolina State and Marike Lendl of Central Florida are the individual leaders after shooting four-under par 68s on the 6,058-yard layout. They are three strokes ahead of LSU’s Martens and McChrystal.
Besides the rounds by Martens and McChrystal, freshman Jacqueline Hedwall finished at two-over 74 and LSU’s other counting score was a three-over 75 from Nicole Crochet. Tessa Teachman played her first round as a Lady Tiger participating in the individual competition and shot 75.
The round was full of birdies which helped LSU overcome some big numbers on holes that crept on to the scorecard.
“The girls really hung in there (Friday),” said LSU women’s golf coach Karen Bahnsen. “They had to work for the score. But they didn’t let the bad holes get them totally frustrated. This course is tight off the tee and you’ve got to play smart and put the ball in the proper position off the tees. It was a good start for us but we need to keep playing consistent golf. That’s what I’m looking for here the rest of the weekend.”
Tulane’s Daniela Holmqvist was another who shot 71 to join the tie for ninth with Martens and McChrystal.
The second round is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. central time with LSU going off at 8:45 a.m. Live scoring for the round can be found at www.LSUsports.net through Golfstat.com.
Mercedes-Benz Women’s Championship
Knoxville, Tenn.
First Round Team Scores (Par 288)
1. Tennessee 283 -5; 2. North Carolina 289 +1; 3. North Carolina State 290 +2; 4. LSU 291 +3; 5. Furman 294 +6; 6. Mississippi 295 +7; 6. Louisville 295 +7; 8. Kentucky 296 +8; 8. UT Chattanooga 296 +8; 8. Texas A&M 296 +8; 11. South Carolina 297 +9; 12. Kent State 299 +11; 13. UCF 300 +12; 14. Arkansas 303 +15; 15. Tulane 304 +16; 16. Denver 305 +17; 17. SMU 306 +18; 18. Indiana State 332 +44.
Individual Top 5 (Par 72)
1. Sydney Crane, North Carolina, 68 -4; 1. Lauren Doughtie, North Carolina State, 68 -4; 1. Marika Lendl, Central Florida, 68-4; 4. Kate Ackerson, SMU, 69 -3; 4. Ginny Brown, Tennessee, 69 -3; 4. Dori Carter, Mississippi, 69 -3; 4. Lauren Spurlock, Mississippi, 69 -3.
LSU Scores
T9. Caroline Martens 71 -1
T9. Megan McChrystal 71 -1
T31. Jacqueline Hedwall 74 +2
T36. Nicole Crochet 75 +3
T36. Tessa Teachman 75 +3
T64. Lindy LaBauve 78 +6