NEW ORLEANS – Megan McChrystal posted her fifth top five performance in as many tournaments this season and the 18th top 10 finish of her illustrious LSU career as the nation’s number one golfer finished as the runnerup in the Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate at the English Turn Golf and Country Club Tuesday afternoon.
McChrystal missed out by one shot capturing her second medalist honor of the year as Stephanie Meadow of Alabama posted a five-under 211 for the 54 holes, while McChrystal came in at four-under 212. The 18th top 10 career finish for McChrystal puts her tied for fifth with Jackie Gallagher on the school’s all-time top 10 list.
With Meadow starting on the first hole and McChrystal on the sixth in the shotgun start, neither had a completely accurate idea how the tournament was going to swing, but Meadow had a one-stroke lead throughout most of the round until she bogeyed the 14th hole to go back to even for the round and at that time putting her and McChrystal even at six-under par.
In the end, neither player could find a par in the final holes and Meadow’s easy par on 17 would prove to be the difference as McChrystal struggled to get the ball home on the final two holes.
“This one hurts,” McChrystal said. “I just three-putted (hole) four and then couldn’t get up and down from the bunker where I left myself on five. I really don’t want to change anything with where I am. I just played it safe today and didn’t make any putts.”
Still it was the end of a satisfying nine days of golf for McChrystal who finished third in the Central District Invitational that finished last Tuesday and then just missed winning for a second straight year at English Turn. McChrystal had rounds of 69-70-73 for a four-under 212, one behind the play of Meadow, ranked 25th in the country for the Crimson Tide who had rounds of 72-66-73 for a five-under 211.
“I honestly didn’t know where I stood the entire time,” said McChrystal. “Looking back, I felt like I played it too safe. I didn’t trust my putting enough to roll them in. I just kind of got them close and tapped in, and that doesn’t win. You can’t complain being four under for the week out here. I hit the ball pretty solid. I’m going to go home and work hard and get ready to play a home tournament.”
Second-ranked Southern Cal had a decision to stay home and defend its title in the UCLA Invitational or come to New Orleans and square off against many of the nation’s top teams. That decision paid off as the Trojans pulled off a rallying four-shot win over No. 1-ranked Alabama. The Trojans threw a six-under 282 at the field to finish 54 holes at four-over par 868 (297-289-282). The Tide was at 872 (295-287-290) and host Tulane was third eight more shots back at 879.
Maribel Lopez Porras finished in a tie for fifth as the best for the Green Wave at two-under par 214.
The fourth-ranked Lady Tigers shot six-over 294 in the final round to finish at 23-over 887 and in ninth place.
“We played better (Tuesday),” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “We just had one bad round in the two tournaments. It’s a long season and we want to peak at the right time. We’re close to being where we need to be and we are excited about coming home next week for the LSU Classic at the University Club.”
Mary Michael Maggio had the low round of the day for the Lady Tigers with a one-under 71 with LSU also counting McChrystal’s 73 and 75s from Austin Ernst and Jacqueline Hedwall.
Activities begin at the University Club in Baton Rouge for the LSU Tiger Golf Classic on March 10 with the annual college-am event and then competition begins for the 21 teams entered in this year’s event on March 11 with 18 holes each day through March 13. Admission is free.
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Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate
English Turn Golf and Country Club
Final Team Results (Par 288-864)
1. Southern California 297-289-282 – 868 +4; 2. Alabama 295-287-290 – 872 +8; 3. Tulane 288-298-293 – 879 +15; 3. Duke 290-299-290 – 879 +15; 5. Purdue 302-291-287 – 880 +16; 5. Virginia 298-292-290 – 880 +16; 7. Arizona State 293-299-290 – 882 +18; 8. Texas A&M 302-286-297 – 885 +21; 9. LSU 291-302-294 – 887 +23; 10 Auburn 302-298-288 – 888 +24; 11. Vanderbilt 294-297-300 – 891 +27; 12. Florida 298-301-294 – 893 +29; 13. Tennessee 300-295-301 – 896 +32; 14. North Carolina 307-294-302 – 903 +39; 15. Ole Miss 303-305-300 – 908 +44; 16. Kentucky 305-301-307 – 913 +49; 17. Denver 306-313-308 – 927 +63.
Top 5 Individuals (Par 72-216)
1. Stephanie Meadow, Alabama, 72-66-73 – 211 -5; 2. Megan McChrystal, LSU, 69-70-73 – 212 -4; 3. Laetitia Beck, Duke, 66-76-71 – 213 -3; 3. Lindy Duncan, Duke, 73-72-68 – 213 -3; 5. Giulia Molinaro, Arizona State, 71-73-70 – 214 -2; 5. Maribel Lopez Porras, Tulane, 71-71-72 – 214 -2.
LSU Scores
2. Megan McChrystal 69-70-73 – 212 -4
T36. Jacqueline Hedwall 69-80-75 – 224 +8
T60. Austin Ernst 80-74-75 – 229 +13
T70. Linda LaBauve 81-75-76 – 232 +16
T76. Tessa Teachman 73-81-79 – 233 +17
T79. Mary Michael Maggio 85-78-71 – 234 +18