WILMINGTON, N.C. – LSU junior golfer fired an amazing school, course and NCAA Championship women’s single-round record of 8-under par 64 Friday in the final round of the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championship at the Pete Dye Course of the Country Club of Landfall.
McChrystal posted nine birdies and just one bogey, a three-putt on 17, for the record round that moved her from 23rd place to a tie for fifth, well within the goal she set prior to the post-season of finishing in the top 10 in the SECs, NCAA regional and national championship.
McChrystal had rounds of 72, 71, 76 and 64 for 5-under 213. The individual winner was Caroline Hedwall of Oklahoma State at 12-under 276.
McChrystal snapped the school mark of 7-under 65 shot by Katy Harris in the second round of the 2001 SEC Women’s Championships. The course and NCAA records were 65 as well. It is just the third round in the 30-plus years of LSU women’s golf that was better than 68. It also marked the first time an LSU golfer finished the 72-hole NCAA championships under par.
The round was a major rebound from a struggling 76 on Thursday in the third round.
“After I was 1-under for the first three holes I felt like it was time to get some revenge on some of these holes,” McChrystal laughed. “I didn’t play as well as I had liked (Thursday) and didn’t follow through on my shots. (Friday) I felt good and just went for the flag.”
Ironically, McChrystal parred the two par fives on the front but posted birdies on the par-4 third, fifth and seventh holes to turn at 3-under 33.
But that was just a prelude to a final nine holes that totaled just 31 with six birdies. After a birdie on 10, McChrystal went on a string of birdies on 12 through 15 to go 8-under for the first time in the round.
“I didn’t really know what I was shooting,” McChrystal said. “I remember making a long putt on No. 7. I was just playing golf and making putts today. I wasn’t really keeping score.”
The only hiccup on the round came on the par 3 17th when she three-putted but then she came back and showed her ability handling an 18th-hole that played differently than it had all week. McChrystal drove into the rough, laid up to 100 yards and put a wedge into 12 feet, making the putt for the record 64.
“It was so much fun to watch,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “She stuck the shot on every hole. If she put it close, she would make it. I’m so pleased for her. It was an outstanding round of golf to watch.”
McChrystal finished tied for 10th in the SECs and sixth in the NCAA West Regional to go with her finish in the championship to complete her post-season top-10 triple.
“I got a little scared after the first round,” McChrystal said. “It was a little iffy and I struggled. I felt comfortable (Friday). I felt like a low score was out there, but I didn’t know it was out there (Friday).”
For McChrystal the low score was definitely there topping her previous low of 66.
“I don’t think it has sunk in yet,” she said. “It may take a little time to realize exactly what I have done.”
The team winner was Purdue at 1-over 1,153, one shot lower than Southern California
