Alabama Leads Tiger-Wave Classic; LSU 2nd
NEW ORLEANS – LSU sophomore women’s golfer Tessa Teachman holds the co-lead after the first round of the LSU-Wave Golf Classic Friday at English Turn Golf and Country Club.
The Lady Tigers are in great position as well, in second place behind only Alabama, which took advantage of three scores of even or under par to compensate for a high fourth score. Alabama posted a round of five-over par 293, three shots better than LSU at six-over 294.
The first co-hosted tournament by LSU and Tulane, which came about because LSU’s annual tournament had to move because of the continued renovation of the University Club. A record field of 23 teams is taking part with 16 teams in the top 50 of the Golfstat rankings.
Teachman posted a two-under par round of 70 with four bogeys and two birdies to tie for the lead with Brooke Pancake of Alabama who opened with four birdies in the top five holes, a double bogey and another birdie to shoot three-under 33 on the front nine. She had one bogey and eight pars on the back nine to finish as well at two-under.
“It was definitely a grind out there all day,” said Teachman who is presently ranked 15th in the Golfstat rankings this season. “The wind did play a huge factor. You had to be aware of where it was coming from. I kept my focus and kept aiming for the center of the greens and just clicked (Friday). I got a few putts to fall in and had a good day.”
LSU also got a great first round from junior Megan McChrystal who had two birdies and two bogeys in her round. The 23rd-ranked McChrystal is in a large group tied for fourth place. LSU also counted a two-over 74 from Amalie Valle and a six-over 78 from Jacqueline Hedwall.
“Tessa has worked really hard over the break,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “I feel like she is going to have one of those breakout moments any time now. Megan played really steady and played even par. I felt like she could have shot under par if a few more putts would have dropped. Amalie is coming off an injury and this is her second tournament. She is starting to feel like she is getting there so this was a good performance for her.”
One other golfer, Jennifer Kirby of Alabama, broke par at one-under 71.
Alabama came in ranked seven the country in the Golfstat rankings with LSU at No. 20. The defending champion of last year’s LSU Lady Tiger Golf Classic in Baton Rouge, 18th-ranked Virginia, is third at eight-over 296. Ole Miss is fourth at 12-over 300 with 35th ranked North Carolina at 302.
No. 28 Tulane is tied for eighth at 17-over 305. Ashley McKenney had a three-over 75 to top the Tulane scoring with Samantha Troyanovich at four-over 76 with Janine Fellows and Maribel Lopez Porras both shooting five-over 77.
“(The girls) did very well with the wind picking up as the day went on,” said Bahnsen. “They handled it very well. Whenever you are hosting a tournament as a coach, it is hard because you are so busy wearing so many other hats so my girls have been kind of on their own, but they are very relaxed which is good. The first couple of holes there were nervous but they settled down really quickly. I am very pleased with it. This is the first day of three and you have to keep it in perspective. We did not dig any holes; shoot ourselves in the foot, all those good sayings. We are just going to keep trying to work on it every day and try to play as smart as we can.”
Tiger-Wave Golf Classic
English Turn Golf Club, New Orleans, La.
First Round Team Results (Par 288)
1. Alabama 293 +5; 2. LSU 294 +6; 3. Virginia 296 +8; 4. Mississippi 300 +12; 5. North Carolina 302 +14; 6. Purdue 303 +15; 6. Vanderbilt 303 +15; 8. Tulane 305 +17; 8. Furman 305 +17; 8. TCU 305 +17; 8. Auburn 305 +17; 8. Tennessee 305 +17; 13. North Carolina State 306 +18; 14. Georgia 307 +19; 15. Kentucky 308 +20; 16. Notre Dame 310 +22; 17. Louisville 312 +24; 18. Charleston 313 +25; 19. Wake Forest 314 +26; 19. Arkansas 314 +26; 21. Mississippi State 320 +32; 22. UCF 321 +33; 23. North Carolina-Wilmington 323 +35.
First Round Top 10 Individual Results (Par 72)
1. Brooke Pancake, Alabama, 70 -2; 1. Tessa Teachman, LSU, 70 -2; 3. Jennifer Kirby, Alabama, 71 -1; 4. Laura Gonzalez, Purdue, 72 E; 4. Becca Huffer, Notre Dame, 72, E; 4. Louise Kristersson, TCU, 72 E; 4. Camilla Lennarth, Alabama, 72 E; 4. Megan McChrystal, LSU, 72 E; 4. Catherine O’Donnell, North Carolina, 72 E; 4. Lauren Stratton, Vanderbilt, 72 E. 11. Cydney Clanton, Auburn, 73 +1; 11. Eleans Collins, Virginia, 73 +1; 11. Sara Grantham, Ole Miss, 73 +1; 11. Calle Nielson, Virginia, 73 +1; 11. Lauren Spurlock, Tennessee, 73 +1
LSU Scores
T1. Tessa Teachman 70 -2
T4. Megan McChrystal 72 E
T16. Amalie Valle 74 +2
T60. Jacqueline Hedwall 78 +6
T91. Abby Oberthier 81 +9