KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Coach Karen Bahnsen of the 16th-ranked LSU women’s team came into this tournament looking for consistent play from start to finish at the Mercedes-Benz Women’s Collegiate Championships.
After the second round on Saturday, so far so good for the Lady Tigers.
LSU remained in fourth place in the 54-hole event after 36-holes, following up on Friday’s 3-over 291 with a 5-over 293 and stands at 8-over par 584 over the 6,058-yard, par 72 layout of the Fox Den Country Club. The rounds for LSU were not only consistent but it equaled the seventh-lowest 36-hole total for the LSU women’s golf team which is now in its 30th-year of play.
The Lady Tigers have put themselves in an outstanding position entering Sunday’s final round just seven shots out of the lead head by North Carolina which posted an even-par 288 to stand at 1-over 577. Louisville, which shot the day’s only under par round, is second at 3-over 579 and North Carolina State is one shot ahead of LSU at 7-over 583. Ole Miss is one shot back of LSU at 9-over 585. First-round leader Tennessee at 5-under par fell back to seventh after a second round 306.
LSU has three golfers in the top 14 in the individual competition that is led by Marika Lendl of Central Florida at 6-under 138.
Senior Caroline Martens followed a 1-under 71 on Friday with a 1-over 73 and stands at even-par 144 in a group tied for 10th. Both sophomores Nicole Crochet and Megan McChrystal are tied for 14th at 1-over 145. McChrystal followed a 1-under 71 with a 2-over 74, while Crochet moved up 21 spots in the individual standings with a 2-under 70, her career low round. LSU also counted a 4-over 76 from freshman Jacqueline Hedwall.
“I was looking to see how consistent we could be once we got off to a good start,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen , “And certainly our team showed that in (Saturday’s) round. We are really in a nice position, but we still must play consistently again to make sure we have a chance to have a very good finish in this event. The girls understand the course and how they must play and now just need to repeat it again on Sunday.”
The final round is a shotgun start at 8 a.m. CDT and live scoring for the final round can be found at LSUsports.net through Golfstat.com.
Mercedes-Benz Women’s Collegiate
Knoxville, Tenn.
Second Round Team Results (Par 288-576)
1. North Carolina 289-288 ? 577 +1; 2. Louisville 295-284 ? 578 +3; 3. North Carolina State 290-293 ? 583 +7; 4. LSU 291-293 ? 584 +8; 5. Ole Miss 295-290 ? 585 +9; 6. Furman 294-294 ? 588 +12; 7. Tennessee 283-306 – -589 +13; 8. UCF 300-293 ? 593 +17; 9. Arkansas 303-291 ? 594 +18; 9. Kent State 300-294 ? 594 +18; 11. Texas A&M 296-299 ? 595 +19; 12. Kentucky 296-301 ? 597 +21; 13. UT-Chattanooga 296-302 ? 598 +22; 14. Denver 305-294 ? 599 +23; 15. South Carolina 297-313 ? 610 +34; 16. Southern Methodist 306-305 ? 611 +35; 17. Tulane 304-314 ? 618 +42; 18. Indiana State 332-320 ? 652 +76.
Individual Top 5 (Par 72-144)
1. Marika Lendl, UCF, 68-70 ? 138 -6; 2. Sydney Crane, North Carolina 68-72 ? 140 -4; 2. Cindy LaCrosse, Louisville 73-67 ? 140 -4; 4. Dori Carter, Ole Miss, 69-72 ? 141 -3; 4. Lauren Doughtie, North Carolina State, 68-73 ? 141 -3.
LSU Scores
T10. Caroline Martens 71-73 ? 144 E
T14. Nicole Crochet 75-70 ? 145 +1
T14. Megan McChrystal 71-74 ? 145 +1
T41. Jacqueline Hedwall 74-76 ? 150 +6
T55. Tessa Teachman* 75-78 ? 153 +9
84. Lindy LaBauve 78-81 ? 159 +15
* competing at individual