AUBURN, Ala. — LSU sophomore Megan McChrystal wrapped up the fall season with her second consecutive top 10 finish as she took home sixth place in the Auburn-Derby Invitational Sunday at the Auburn University Club at Yarbrough Farms.
McChrystal fired a final round of one-under 71 to finish 54 holes at two-over 218 (74-73-1) to finish with her fifth career top 10. The Stuart, Fla., native was fourth two weeks ago in the Mercedes-Benz Invitational in Knoxville.
LSU finished with their best of the tournament, a nine-over 297, to remain in seventh place in the tournament at 47-over 9111 (314-300-297). LSU, ranked 13th in the Golfstat rankings, put themselves in a hole they could only partially dig out of after the opening 314 round that left them in 14th place after Friday’s first round.
Arizona State won the event after shooting under par in the second (284) and third rounds (285) to finish at five-over 869, 18 shots better than second place Virginia at 23-over 887. Alabama was third at 28-over 892 and it was four more shots back to host Auburn in fourth.
In the final round, LSU counted a one-over 73 from freshman Jacqueline Hedwall, her best round of the tournament, a three-over 75 from senior Caroline Martens and a six-over 78 from sophomore Nicole Crochet. Martens finished in a tie for 32nd place at 230, 14-over par, while Hedwall tied for 36th at 16-over 232.
“Again, we played much better in the second and third round,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “But we know we are so much better than we played in the beginning of the tournament. That cost us a chance to have a really nice finish to end the fall. But I’m pleased that the girls didn’t give up and fought back to get what they could out of the event. We will continue to work hard as we look forward to the spring portion of our schedule starting in February.”
The highlight of that schedule will be the annual LSU Invitational at the LSU University Club, March 14-16, 2009.
Auburn-Derby Invitational
Final Team Results (Par 288-864)
1. Arizona State 300-284-285 ? 869 +5; 2. Virginia 289-298-300 ? 887 +23; 3. Alabama 294-302-296 ? 892 +28; 4. Auburn 298-304-294 ? 896 +32; 5. Ole Miss 305-305-293 ? 903 +39; 6. Georgia 308-305-296 ? 909 +45; 7. LSU 314-300-297 ? 911 +47; 8. South Carolina 310-304-306 ? 920 +56; 8. Kentucky 315-308-297 ? 920 +56; 8. Tulane 307-311-302 ? 920 +56; 11. UT Chattanooga 317-306-302 ? 925 +61; 12. UCF 310-316-300 ? 926 +62; 13. Furman 309-313-307 ? 929 +65; 14. Mississippi State 312-309-301 ? 931 +67; 14. Kansas 311-306-314 ? 931 +67; 16. Florida State 310-329-317 ? 956 +92; 17. Coastal Carolina 324-321-326 ? 971 +107.
Individual Top 5
1. Anna Nordqvist, Arizona State, 70-67-70 ? 207 -9; 2. Whitney Neuhauser, Virginia, 69-71-71 ? 211 -5; 2. Azahara Munoz, Arizona State, 72-70-69 ? 211 -5; 4. Candace Schepperle, Auburn, 71-73-72 ? 216 E; 5. Dori Carter, Ole Miss, 75-70-72 ? 217 +1.
LSU Scores
T6. Megan McChrystal 74-73-71 ? 218 +2
T32. Caroline Martens 80-75-75 ? 230 +14
T32. Jacqueline Hedwall 80-79-73 ? 232 +16
T53. Tessa Teachman 80-75-80 ? 235 +19
T67. Nicole Crochet 84-77-78 ? 239 +23