KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The 16th-ranked LSU women’s golf team proved itself in many ways Sunday shooting the lowest single round in the 30-year history over the program to record a come-from-behind championship at the Mercedes-Benz Women’s Intercollegiate Championship at the Fox Den Country Club.
The Lady Tigers entered the round in fourth place at eight-over par, seven shots out of the lead, but when LSU had finished the round, the Lady Tigers had posted an impressive school record round of seven-under par 281 and had finished on top by nine shots over second round leader North Carolina and Louisville, who tied for second. LSU had a 16 stroke turnaround going from seven down to nine in the plus.
LSU’s 54 hole total of 865 (291-293-281), one over par, is one shot off the 54-hole school record of 864 set at the University Club in Baton Rouge when LSU won the 2001 LSU-Cleveland Classic. It is the lowest 54-hole total for LSU outside Baton Rouge since shooting 873 in a non-winning performance at the 2001 Cougar Classic.
It was the 30th team title taken by LSU in their 30 years of women’s golf and the 29th title won under the coaching of Karen Bahnsen, who is celebrating her 25th year as the LSU women’s coach.
LSU was the only team under par on the final day with Arkansas the next closest as the Lady Razorbacks shot three over par to finish sixth at 21-over par 885. LSU’s 865 tied the tournament record 54-hole score set last year by Florida.
LSU would have three golfers shoot under par rounds on the final day with three LSU players in the top 10 and all four counting scores for the weekend in the top 20. This from a team playing four sophomores and a senior who was playing her first event of the season.
Megan McChystal, who last season had the fourth lowest single season average in history, finished her tournament with a four-under par 68 in a round that featured five birdies and just one bogey. It was her second 68 of her short LSU career, tying her for the third best single round in LSU history. McChrystal posted rounds of 71-74-68 to finish at three-under par 213, good enough for a tie for fourth in the individual competition, her fourth top 10 at LSU and it equaled her best finish for the Lady Tigers.
Nicole Crochet posted her second straight two-under 70 on the final day to finish at one-under 215 (76-70-70) to stand in seventh place in the competition. The 70s were her college best and it was her first top 10 finish.
Senior Caroline Martens posted a one-over 73 for the final day and finished at one-over 217, good enough for a tie for 10th place, good enough for her fourth career top 10 finish and the first since her freshman season.
Freshman Jacqueline Hedwall rounded out the team scoring with her own two-under par round of 70, putting her in the clubhouse for 54-holes at four-over 220 (74-76-70), good enough for a tie for 19th place.
“That was fun. We knew we had to have a couple of them shoot under par and everyone tried to do it,” Bahnsen laughed. “I am so very pleased with the way the girls played all weekend long. “This team understood all weekend how important positioning off the team was on this course. We wanted consistent play all three rounds and they responded from start to finish. To win as we did was something very special and now we will get ready for the next tournament and make sure we build on this as we go forward.”
The Lady Tigers have one more tournament in the fall portion of the schedule, October 24-26, at the Auburn-Derby Invitational.
Mercedes-Benz Women’s Championship
Knoxville, Tenn.
Final Team Results (Par 288-864)
1. LSU 291-293-281 ? 865 +1; 2. North Carolina 289-288-297 ? 874 +10; 2. North Carolina State 290-293-291 ? 874 +10; 4. Louisville 295-284-296 ? 875 +11; 5. Mississippi 295-290-296 ? 881 +17; 6. Arkansas 303-291-291 ? 885 +21; 7. Kent State 300-294-293 ? 887 +23; 8. Tennessee 283-306-301 ? 890 +26; 9. Kentucky 296-301-296 ? 893 +29; 9. UT-Chattanooga 296-302-295 ? 893 +29; 9. UCF 300-293-300 ? 893 +29; 12. Texas A&M 296-299-299 ? 894 +30; 12. Furman 294-294-306 ? 894 +30; 14. Denver 305-294-307 ? 906 +42; 15. South Carolina 297-313-302 ? 912 +48; 16. SMU 306-305-307 ? 918 +54; 17. Tulane 304-314-304 ? 922 +58; 18. Indiana State 332-320-327 ? 979 +115.
Individual Top 5
1. Lauren Doughtie, North Carolina State, 68-73-68 ? 209 -7; 2. Dori Carter, Ole Miss, 69-72-70 ? 211 -5; 2. Cindy LaCrosse, Louisville, 73-67-71 ? 211 -5; 4. Kirby Dreher, Kent State, 75-68-70 ? 213 -3; 4. Megan McChrystal, LSU, 71-74-68 ? 213 -3.
LSU Scores
T4. Megan McChrystal 71-74-68 ? 213 -3
7. Nicole Crochet 75-70-70 ? 215 -1
T10. Caroline Martens 71-73-73 ? 217 +1
T19. Jacqueline Hedwall 74-76-70 ? 220 +4
T47. Tessa Teachman (I) 75-78-74 ? 227 +11
T83. Lindy LaBauve 78-81-79 ? 238 +22