CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The No. 1-ranked LSU women’s golf team again continued its streak of under-par rounds and finds itself in second place after the first round of the Tar Heel Invitational at the UNC Finley Golf Course Friday.
The Lady Tigers posted its seventh under par team round in as many rounds this season with a three-under par 285. No. 3 ranked Alabama is the tournament leader with a strong 11-under par 277. The two SEC teams finished one-two in the opening NCAA Fall Preview before LSU won the Mason Rudolph Classic with Alabama finishing sixth.
The Lady Tigers have three strokes on Duke and Florida tied for third at even par 288 with Tulane tied for fifth with Michigan at one-over par 289.
Senior All-American Megan McChrystal birdied five of the final 13 holes to shoot a five-under par 67 and stands in second place in the individual competition, two shots out of the lead held by Brooke Pancake who posted a seven-under 65.
LSU freshman Austin Ernst of Seneca, S.C., playing in her first collegiate tournament came through with an even par 72 as one of LSU’s counting score along with sophomore Mary Michael Maggio who also posted even par. Jacqueline Hedwall rounded out the counting scores with a two-over 74.
“It was a good round,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “We could have had a few more putts drop, but overall the girls played another steady round and we are in a good position after the first day.”
Tulane’s Janine Fellows is tied with McChrystal for second place in the individual competition with her five-under 67.
The tournament continues on Saturday with the second day of play beginning at 8 a.m. CDT. Live scoring can be found at LSUsports.net through Golfstat.com
Tar Heel Invitational
Chapel Hill, N.C.
First-Round Team Results (Par 288)
1. Alabama 277 -11; 2. LSU 285 -3; 3. Duke 288 E; 3. Florida 288 E; 5. Tulane 289 +1; 5. Michigan State 289 +1; 7. Virginia 290 +2; 8. South Carolina 291 +3; 8. Wake Forest 291 +3; 10. Texas A&M 292 +4; 11. Auburn 293 +5; 12. North Carolina 294 +6; 13. Georgia 295 +7; 14. Vanderbilt 298 +10; 15. Florida State 299 +11; 15. Denver 299 +11; 17. Louisville 301 +13; 18. North Carolina State 302 +14.
Top 5 Individuals (Par 72)
1. Brooke Pancake, Alabama, 67 -7; 2. Megan McChrystal, LSU, 67 -5; 2. Janine Fellows, Tulane, 67 -5; 4. Brittany Altomare, Virginia, 68 -4; 5. Camilla Lennarth 69 -3; 5. Sarah Zwartynski, Texas A&M, 69 -3; 5. Julia Thead, Vanderbilt, 69 -3.
LSU Scores
T2. Megan McChrystal 67 -5
T24. Mary Michael Maggio 72 E
T24. Austin Ernst 72 E
T42. Jacqueline Hedwall 74 +2
T54. Tessa Teachman 75 +3