BATON ROUGE – LSU senior Megan McChrystal has the unique opportunity to win two different tournaments on the same course Tuesday as she stands just one shot out of the lead after Monday’s second round of the Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate at English Turn.
McChrystal seems to be one of those handling the windy open conditions at English Turn, much as she did a year ago in firing a final round 69 to win the Tiger-Wave Golf Classic at three-under par 213. Both LSU and Tulane combined to host the tournament while the Baton Rouge University Club was remodeled. Now with LSU slated to host its own LSU Tiger Golf Classic again at the U-Club March 11-13, the Allstate Sugar Bowl golf event has returned for the first time since before Katrina and McChrystal is the defacto defending champion on the golf course from last year.
After a three-under 69 on Sunday, she followed with a solid two-under 70 that featured four birdies including the difficult 18th to stand at five-under par 139, one shot out of the lead of Alabama’s Stephanie Meadow who fired a six-under 66 (72-66, 138). McChrystal is presently ranked the No. 1 women’s golfer in the country while Meadow is ranked 25th in the country.
The fourth-ranked Lady Tigers struggled as a team to get a fourth counting score, having to take an 80 to the team total in the play five, count four format. No. 1 Alabama moved from sixth to the 36-hole lead, shooting a one-under par 287 to stand at 582 (295-287), six-over par.
The Tide has a four-shot advantage over No. 2 Southern California at 10-over 586 (297-289) and 15th-ranked host Tulane (288-298). Texas A&M is fourth at 12-over with Duke in fifth (+13) and Virginia rounding out the top five at 14-over. LSU is in a tie for ninth with Purdue at 17-over par 593 (291-302).
Along with McChrystal’s 70, the Tigers counted a two-over 74 from freshman Austin Ernst, who made a six-shot improvement in her score. Sophomore Mary Michael Maggio also was a positive with a four-over 78, a seven-shot improvement from the first round and Jacqueline Hedwall finished with an eight-over 80 for the final counting score.
Lindy Labauve, playing as an individual in the event, posted a three-over 75.
Tulane was paced Maribel Lopez Porras who posted a one-under 71 and tied for fourth at two-over 142 (71-71). Janine Fellows is at one-under 143 (71-72) and is tied for sixth.
The final round will be a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. Live scoring is available at LSUsports.net through Golfstat.com. Follow LSU Women’s Golf on Facebook @LSUwomensgolf and on Twitter @LSUwomensgolf.
Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate
English Turn Golf and Country Club – New Orleans, La.
Second Round Team Results (Par 288-576)
1. Alabama 295-287 – 582 +6; 2. Southern California 297-289 – 586 +10; 2. Tulane 288-298 – 586 +10; 4. Texas A&M 302-286 – 588 +12; 5. Duke 290-299 – 589 +13; 6. Virginia 298-292 – 590 +14; 7. Vanderbilt 294-297 – 591 +15; 8. Arizona State 293-299 – 592 +16; 9. Purdue 302-291 – 593 +17; 9. LSU 291-302 – 593 +17; 11. Tennessee 300-295 – 595 +19; 12. Florida 298-301 – 599 +23; 13. Auburn 302-298 – 600 +24; 14. North Carolina 307-294 – 601 +25; 15. Kentucky 305-301 – 606 +30; 16. Mississippi 303-305 – 608 +32; 17. Denver 306-313 – 619 +43
Top 5 Individuals (Par 72-144)
1. Stephanie Meadow, Alabama, 72-66 – 138 -6; 2. Megan McChrystal, LSU, 69-70 – 139 -5; 3. Susy Grunden, Texas A&M, 74-67 – 141 -3; 4. Maribel Lopez Porras, Tulane, 71-71 – 142 -2; 4. Laetitia Beck, Duke, 66-76 – 142 -2.
LSU Scores
2. Megan McChrystal 69-70 – 139 -5
T33. Jacqueline Hedwall 59-80 – 149 +5
T62. Austin Ernst 80-74 – 154 +10
T62. Tessa Teachman 73-81 -154 +10
T73. Lindy LaBauve 81-75 – 156 +12
T90. Mary Michael Maggio 85-78 – 163 +19