SORRENTO, Fla. — The 11th-ranked women’s golf team more than held its one with the big players in college golf Sunday in the opening round of the UCF Challenge firing a two-under par 286 at the RedTail Golf Club.
LSU finished the day in a tie for third as one of four teams to post under par rounds on the opening day of the 54-hole event. Top-ranked UCLA posted a six-under 282, two shots better than the four-under 284 No. 2 Arizona State posted. No. 5 Oklahoma State is tied with LSU at two-under 286. Tennessee and Auburn are four shots back in fifth at two-over 290.
The Tigers held for a good portion of the round at two or three over par, but had a spectacular finish over the final few holes to move under par for the four-counting scores. LSU played the last five holes in five under par for its counting scores and on the day LSU’s five-players posted 14 birdies.
“I’m so proud of the team,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “What a great finish by all the girls. Amalie Valle went from even teeing off on 14 to three-under at the end of the round. It was a good day. This is such a strong field, but the girls know that if they just worry about their game and not what is happening around them, they can post a good number. There is still a long way to go, but I’m very pleased with how we started the first day. We’ll see what tomorrow brings.”
Valle’s three-under 69 puts her in a tie for fifth in the individual competition, three shots out of the lead of Jessica Yadloczky of Florida at six-under 66 with four golfers tied for second two shots back. Megan McChrystal, who won her first LSU individual title last month at the Central District, posted a one-under 71 and is in a group tied for 12th after one round. Freshman Tessa Teachman had an even par 72 and Jacqueline Hedwall rounded out the counters with a two-over 74.
The event continues at 8 a.m. CDT Monday with the second round of the three-day event. Live scoring can be found at LSUsports.net through golfstat.com.
UCF Challenge
Sorrento, Fla.
Team Results (Par 288)
1. UCLA 282 -6; 2. Arizona State 284 -4; 3. Oklahoma State 286 -2; 3. LSU 286 -2; 5. Tennessee 290 +2; 5. Auburn 290 +2; 7. Southern California 291 +3: 7. Texas 291 +3; 9. Florida 292 +4; 10. Pepperdine 293 +5; 10. Arizona 293 +5; 12. Purdue 294 +6; 13. North Carolina 296 +8; 14. Duke 297 +9; 14. Alabama 297 +9; 16. Florida State 298 +10; 16. Vanderbilt 298 +10; 18. UCF 308 +20.
Individual Top 5 (Par 72)
1. Jessica Yadloczky, Florida, 66 -6; 2. Caroline Hedwall, Oklahoma State, 68 -4; 2. Nicole Smith, Tennessee, 68 -4; 2. Glory Yang, UCLA, 68 -4; 5. Amalie Valle, LSU, 69 -3; 5. Pernilla Lindberg, Oklahoma State, 69 -3; 5. Kelley Louth, Texas, 69 -3.
LSU Scores
T5. Amalie Valle 69 -3
T12. Megan McChrystal 71 -1
T23. Tessa Teachman 72 E
T40. Jacqueline Hedwall 74 +2
T82. Caroline Martens 79 +7