TEMPE, Ariz. — The eighth-ranked LSU women’s golf team was taking no chances on having to repeat last year’s sudden-death playoff entry to the national championship.
This year, LSU played the final 36 holes in three-under par, including the teams fifth under par round of the season Saturday to finish third and easily qualify for the NCAA Division I Championships at the NCAA West Regional at the ASU Karsten Golf Course.
The Tigers advance to the championships, scheduled for May 19-22 at the Caves Valley Country Club in Owings Mills, Md., for the second straight year, the third time in four years and for the 10th time in the 30 years of the program.
It proved to be a tournament in which all five players contributed big moments, from four players having to play without a fifth score backup on Friday after Tessa Teachman having to withdraw because of dehydration and illness in the 100 degree heat, to Teachman coming back on Saturday for a counting round of three-over 75.
In the end, the top three seeds finished just that way with host Arizona State posting a three-day total of 22-under par 842 (273, 283 286). Second-seed Southern California was three-under 861 and third-seed LSU was there at four-over 868 (295-288-285). Rounding out the eight teams that qualified for nationals from the West were TCU, Texas and UC Irvine 873 each, Arizona 876 and Pepperdine edging out Arkansas and California by three shots for the eighth and final spot at 15-over 879.
To make LSU’s performance more impressive, the Tigers were six shots out of the qualifying number after 18 holes and finished 11 shots in front of the number by the end of the tournament.
“I think this team has earned a lot of respect for this performance,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen, in her 25th year as the head coach of the Lady Tigers. “I am so proud of everyone. I’ve never seen a team fight so hard. Coming from behind didn’t seem to faze them and that was big. The girls played with toughness and a lot of heart. Every one of them was solid and everyone contributed in what was no doubt a true team effort.”
And to conclude the round with flourish, upped stepped sophomore Megan McChrystal in her typical closing finish and on the par-4 ninth hole (her 18th) of the day, McChrystal took an eight-iron from 133 yards and put it in the bottom of the cup for an eagle two that concluded a three-under round of 69 as she played the final 47 holes in seven under par to finish in a group tied for sixth at four-under 212 (74-69-69).
For McChrystal, the performance sets her up to wrap up her quest in the championships to finish with the lowest single season average in LSU history as she averaged just over 72 with the season mark of 73.12 that Meredith Duncan set in 2002. She also solidified her spot in the top group in the Golfstat Cup, where she entered the tournament ranked No. 13.
Freshman Jacqueline Hedwall also finished in the top 10 with a tie for ninth finish of one-under 215 on rounds of 72-72-71. LSU also got an under par round of two-under 70 from sophomore Amalie Valle who finished the 54-holes at even par 216, moving up 13 spots on the leader board to a tie for 13th.
Teachman doesn’t record a 54-hole finish because of her withdrawal on Saturday, but her comeback Sunday proved to be an inspiration for the team.
“I really didn’t know if Tessa could go the entire round,” said Bahnsen. “To play with four one day and then her to come back out and play a round that not only counted but was a big lift to the team is something special.”
Caroline Martens posted a 79 in the final round but contributed in the first two rounds with counting scores of 75-75. Martens finished in a tie for 71st. She would become the fifth LSU golfer to make at least three appearances in the NCAA national women’s championship tournament joining Katy Wilkinson-Harris (4), Meredith Duncan (4), Kristi Coats (3) and Lisette Lee (3).
Of the 11 SEC teams that advanced to regional, three will join LSU from the East Regional ? Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia. Tulane also advanced through the same regional at Gainesville, Fla.
NCAA West Regional Women’s Golf Tournament
Tempe, Ariz. ? ASU Karsten Golf Course
Final Team Results (Par 288-864)
1. Arizona State 273-283-286 ? 842 -22; 2. Southern California 289-283-289 ? 861 -3; 3. LSU 295-288-285 ? 868; 4. TCU 289-293-291 ? 873 +9; 4. UC Irvine 289-284-300 ? 873; 4. Texas 288-290-295 ? 873 +9; 7. Arizona 288-300-288 ? 876 +12; 8. Pepperdine 294-300-285 ? 879; 9. Arkansas 289-296-297 ? 882 +18; 9. California 291-297-294 ? 882 +18; 11. Texas A&M 288-297-300 ? 885 +21; 12. Oregon 299-298-293 ? 890 +26; 13. San Jose State 299-305-296 ? 900 +36; 14. San Francisco 294-304-303 ? 901 +37; 15. Baylor 299-309-294 ? 902 +38; 16. UNLV 299-313-293 ? 905 +41; 17. Long Beach State 299-310-299 ? 908 +44; 18. Northern Arizona 299-309-309 ? 917 +53; 19. Colorado 309-308-305 ? 922 +58; 20. Oral Roberts 312-305-314 ? 931 +67; 21. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 315-303-316 ? 934 +70.
Individual Top 5 (Par 72-216)
1. Carlota Ciganda, Arizona State 67-68-71 ? 206 -10; 2. Jennifer Song, Southern California 72-67-68 ? 207 -9; 3. Jane Chin, UC-Irvine, 67-69-72 ? 208 -8; 3. Juliana Murcia, Arizona State, 68-70-70 ? 208 -8; 5. Belen Mozo, Southern California, 66-70-75 ? 211 -5.
LSU Scores
T6. Megan McChrystal 74-69-69 ? 212 -4
T9. Jacqueline Hedwall 72-72-71 ? 215 -1
T13. Amalie Valle 74-72-70 ? 216 E
T71. Caroline Martens 75-75-79 ? 229 +13
— Tessa Teachman 76-WD-75 — —-
The teams and individuals selected to the NCAA Championships are listed below.
East Region:
Teams:
1. Denver
2. Alabama
3. Tennessee
4. Virginia
5. Tulane
6. Duke
7. North Carolina
8. Georgia
Individuals:
1. Stephanie Connelly, UCF
2. Marina Alex, Vanderbilt
Central Region:
Teams:
1. UCLA
2. Purdue
3. Wake Forest
4. Oklahoma State
5. Michigan State
6. New Mexico
7. Ohio State
8. Chattanooga
Individuals:
1. Kendall Dye, Oklahoma
2. Cindy LaCrosse, Louisville
West Region:
Teams:
1. Arizona State
2. Southern California
3. LSU
4. TCU
5. UC Irvine
6. Texas
7. Arizona
8. Pepperdine
Individuals:
1. Alice Kim, UC Davis
2. Cathryn Bristow, Oregon
For ticket information, call 202/784-4979. For golf championships results, go to the NCAA Web site at www.ncaa.com. Live streaming of the final two rounds of the golf championships will also be available online at www.ncaa.com. Holes 16, 17 and 18 will be streamed on Thursday and Friday, May 21 and 22.