WILMINGTON, N.C. – LSU junior golfer Megan McChrystal posted a strong opening day score of 72 Tuesday in the first round of the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championship at the Pete Dye Course at the Country Club of Landfall.
McChrystal is just five shots out off the pace of first round leaders Maude-Aimee LeBlanc of Purdue, Jennifer Song of Southern California and Jennifer Johnson of Arizona State at five-under par 67. LeBlanc had six birdies on her opening day card, while Song got to five under with an eagle on the short par 5 18th hole. Johnson had seven birdies on her card over the course that measures over 6,300-yards.
McChrystal playing for the third time in the championship handled opening day like a veteran, surviving a rough stretch of holes in the middle of the final nine holes to finish with a birdie on 18 to shoot 72. In fact, McChrystal birdied all four of the par 5s on the course and while the 18th was playing short the other three measured out at 515, 510 and 544.
The birdie on the 544-yard 12 was just one of nine registered on the day by the 126-player field on what would end up being the sixth toughest hole on the course. The birdie on the 515-yard fourth hole was one just 12 on the day.
McChrystal is in a group tied at even for 20th on a day when 19 players posted under par scores and took advantage of greens that were softened up by rain Monday and early Tuesday morning. The first day average score was 74.92 strokes.
“For the most part, I was pleased,” said McChrystal after her morning round. “I just struggled on a few holes late in the round and hit a couple of bad shots. I’m going to the range to work on my driver and come out ready (Wednesday). I felt comfortable with the course and the conditions. For the first round, it wasn’t too bad. I was happy with my putting … the greens were pretty true.”
McChrystal and the other five individual players will have an afternoon tee time for Wednesday’s second round, hitting the first shot at 12:15 p.m. CDT.
Coach Karen Bahnsen, who accompanied McChrystal around the course on Tuesday, was pleased with what she saw from the two-time first-team All-SEC selection.
“She played a very steady round,” said Bahnsen. “She had a little trouble with the driver on a couple of hole, but the round was a good start for her. We set up a game plan and Megan followed it perfectly. She was ready to go and I am very pleased.”
McChrystal and the other five individual players will have an afternoon tee time for Wednesday’s second round, hitting the first shot at 12:15 p.m. CDT.
Live scoring for the second round is available through LSUsports.net at Golfstat.com.