OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The seventh-ranked LSU women’s golf team got important scoring totals from the bottom of its lineup and remains in the top 10, in eighth place after 36 holes of the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championships at the Cave Valley Golf Club.
LSU posted a round that was two shots higher in the second round, 304, to the Tuesday’s first round (302), but without the play of senior Caroline Martens and Tessa Teachman, the Lady Tigers would not have been in as good a position at the halfway point of the 72-hole event.
Teachman shot the low round of the day in the No. 5 position as the Baton Rouge freshman posted a one-over round of 71, while Martens, despite bogeys on the final two holes, posted a two-over 73.
LSU struggled at the top of its lineup with Amalie Valle and Jacqueline Hedwall both shooting eight-over 80s and Megan McChrystal, LSU’s top player, had four uncharacteristic three-putt greens in a five-over 77.
It was just the second time this season the Lady Tigers have had to count an 80 score, dating back to the first round of the October 2008 Auburn Derby Invitational when LSU counted three rounds of 80.
While it seemed at times that LSU would shoot itself out of an advantageous spot in the final 12 tee times Thursday afternoon, the rest of the field was unable to make up a lot of ground and LSU dropped just three spots to eighth at 30-over 606. But outside the lead of UCLA at 13-over 589, LSU is just 10 shots out of second and six shots out of the top five as LSU tries for its first top 10 finish in the NCAA Division I championships since 2000 at Sunriver, Ore.
“I was very pleased with the way that Tessa and Caroline played (Wednesday),” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “That was very important because it’s not every day your No. 1 and No. 2 player play the way they did. The course plays pretty long for Amalie, but she was grinding and doing everything she can. But I think she will play well on this golf course. The greens got very fast. They are drying out as the week goes on and they are going to continue to be fast so it is just the adjustments. Megan had four three-putts and that’s just uncharacteristic of her. Jacqueline got hit some bad shots early and got in a hole.
“I think we can come back the next two days and the main thing is don’t get intimidated by this golf course,” the 25-year veteran leader of the Lady Tigers said. “I refuse to let them go there. For this team to relax is very important. That’s how this team performs the best ? when they are loose.”
While there weren’t any huge moves by teams on the second day, Southern Cal did move from fourth to second with a second-round 295 to stand at 596, 20-over and seven shots behind leader UCLA, who moved from second to first. Denver continued to be a factor, although they did drop to third at 598, 22-over. No. 1-ranked Arizona State and Oklahoma State are two more shots back tied for fourth at 24-over 600 along with North Carolina with Wake Forest seventh (603), along with LSU (606) and Virginia (607).
Tulane improved its 312 first round to a 305 to stand at 617 (41-over par) and moved up one spot from 17th place to 16th. The Conference USA champs, playing in their first year back as a program after Katrina, has been paced by Janine Fellows with rounds of 76-75 for 151 to stand in a group tied for 28th place.
The stroke average was down just under one full stroke from 77.92 to 77.11 for the second round under warmer, calmer conditions for much of the day. The biggest difference was the greens that became firmer and less receptive to holding long iron shots that many players were forced to play into the lengthy par fours and the two par threes that play over 180 yards each needing all carry over hazards.
“Everybody is commenting on how fast the greens are getting,” said Bahnsen. “You really start second guessing yourself on putts. You can’t be too timid with them, but of course you can’t be too aggressive because it will go six, seven feet past.”
Teachman’s seven birdies for the tournament is one off the tournament best of eight held by four golfers, while Martens leads the team in pars with 26 in 36 holes, one off the tournament best of 27 held by three players.
Maria Jose Uribe, the 13th ranked player in the country, helped put her stamp on UCLA’s lead Wednesday with a six-under par 66 that gives her the halfway individual lead at three-under 141. Four other players are tied for second at one-under par 143. Shockley entered the second round in a tie for 25th but the best round by far of the tournament moved her to the top.
Teachman (78-73) and McChrystal (74-77) are tied for LSU’s top position at 151, seven-over par in a big group tied for 28th place. Teachman moved up 32 spots in the standings. Martens’ 74 moved her up 23 places in the standings to a tie for 37th at eight-over 152.
The Lady Tigers will play in the final wave of the day beginning at 11:50 a.m. CDT playing with Wake Forest (for the third straight round) and Virginia (winner of the LSU Golf Classic) from the ACC. LSU will be looking to keep one of the afternoon tee times for the final round on Friday looking to secure a top finish in the event.
“The good thing is that we are in the afternoon wave with the leaders,” said Bahnsen. “We’ve got to play for position. Typically our team seems to like to come from behind. (Thursday) is key. We need to shoot a better round. It felt like a much higher scoring round because our top didn’t score well. We walked away both days from the golf course feeling like we know we can do better. We’re close.”
Live scoring for the third round is available at LSUsports.net through Golfstat.com. There will also be a webcast of the 16th, 17th and 18th holes Thursday provided by the NCAA from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT and then beginning again at 2 p.m. running until conclusion of the round. A link can be found at LSUsports.net or at ncaasports.com
NCAA Women’s Division I Championship
Caves Valley Golf Course ? Owings Mills, Md.
Second Round Team Results (Par 288-576)
1. UCLA 296-293 ? 589 +13; 2. USC 301-295 ? 596 +20; 3. Denver 294-304 ? 598 +22; 4. Arizona State 302-298 ? 600 +24; 4. Oklahoma State 303-297 ? 600 +24; 4. North Carolina 299-301 ? 600 +24; 7. Wake Forest 303-300 ? 603 +27; 8. LSU 302-304 ? 606 +30; 9. Virginia 305-302 ? 607 +31; 9. Alabama 305-302 ? 607 +31; 9. Purdue 306-301 ? 607 +31; 12. Duke 308-301 ? 609 +33; 13. Pepperdine 312-298 ? 610 +34; 13. Michigan State 307-303 ? 610 +34; 15. Arizona 310-305 ? 615 +39; 16. Tulane 312-305 ? 617 +41; 17. Tennessee 307-313 ? 620 +44; 18. UT Chattanooga 316-307 ? 623 +47; 18. Georgia 316-307 ? 623 +47; 20. New Mexico 311-314 ? 625 +49; 20 Texas 314-311 ? 625 +49; 22. TCU 314-316 ? 630 +54; 23. Ohio State 323-311 ? 634 +58; 24 UC Irvine 320-316 ? 636 +60.
Individual Top 10 (Par 72-144)
1. Maria Jose Uribe, UCLA, 75-66 ? 141 -3; 2. Nannette Hill, Wake Forest, 72-71 ? 143 -1; 2. Stephanie Sherlock, Denver, 70-73 ? 143 -1; 2. Lisa McCloskey, Pepperdine, 74-69 ? 143 -1; 5. Jennifer Song, Southern Cal, 74-69 ? 143 -1; 6. Maria Hernandez, Purdue, 74-72 ? 146 +2; 6. Pernilla Lindberg, Oklahoma State, 74-72 ? 146 +2; 6. Stephanie Connelly, UCF, 72-74 ? 146 +2; 9. Dawn Schockley, Denver, 77-70 ? 147 +3; 9. Ginny Brown, Tennessee, 72-75 ? 147 +3; 9. Sydney Crane, North Carolina, 75-72 ? 147 +3; Sydney Crane, North Carolina, 75-72 ? 147 +3; 9. Catherine O’Donnell, North Carolina, 70-77, 147 +3; 9. Marta Silva, Georgia, 75-72 ? 147 +3.
LSU Scores
T28. Tessa Teachman 78-73 ? 151 +7
T28. Megan McChrystal 74-77 ? 151 +7
T37. Caroline Martens 78-74 ? 152 +8
T65. Jacqueline Hedwall74-80 ? 154 +10
T79. Amalie Valle 76-80 ? 156 +12