CHARLESTON, S.C. – The No. 4 ranked LSU women’s golf team and sophomore defending NCAA D1 champion Austin Ernst are both in good position to contend for the title after Monday’s second round of the Cougar Classic at the Yeaman Hall Course.
LSU is in third after 36 holes of the 54-hole event at five-under par 571 after posting a three-over round of 291. The Lady Tigers trail leader North Carolina by four shots as the UNC is at nine-under 567 after a six-under second round. Florida is one shot back at eight-under 568 after a second consecutive round of 284. LSU is six shots clear of fourth place North Carolina State at one-over 577.
Four SEC teams – Vanderbilt, Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee – are tied for fifth at five-over 581 with Ole Miss in ninth at 583.
Ernst, from Seneca, S.C., kept pace with leader Erica Popson of Tennessee and posted another under par round to remain one shot out of the lead. Ernst posted a three-under round of 69 to go with Sunday’s five-under 67 to stand at eight-under par 136. Popson is the leader at nine-under at 135 after rounds off 66-69.
The team’s 36-hole total of 571 is the fifth lowest in school history for 36 holes and Ernst’s total of 136 is the lowest individual 36-hole total in program history, topping the mark of 138 that Ernst had at the halfway point of the NCAA D1 Championship a year ago. The 138 mark was originally set by All-American Ashley Wynn of LSU in a 1998 event in Hawaii.
LSU senior Tessa Teachman of Baton Rouge had another strong day for the Lady Tigers with an even par round of 72 to go with her opening 67 and she stands in a tie for fifth place at five-under par 139, which is tied for the fourth lowest individual total by an LSU women’s golfer after 36 holes.
Sophomore Lindsay Gahm and senior Jacqueline Hedwall each shot 75 as part of the team score and freshman Madeline Sagstrom had a four-over 76.
The final round will be shotgun start at 8 a.m. CST with North Carolina, Florida and LSU playing together. Live scoring is available at LSUsports.net through Golfstat.com. Follow LSU women’s golf on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/LSUwomensgolf and on Twitter @LSUwomensgolf.
Cougar Classic
Second Round Team Results (288-576)
1. North Carolina 285-282 – 567 -9; 2. Florida 284-284 – 568 -8; 3. LSU 280-291 – 571 -5; 4. North Carolina State 287-290 – 577 +1; 5. Vanderbilt 290-291 – 581 +5; Tennessee 289-292 – 581 +5; 5. Alabama 287-294 – 581 +5; 5. Georgia 295-286 – 581 +5; 9. Ole Miss 296-287 – 583 +7; 10. Duke 292-293 – 585 +9; 11. South Carolina 307-283 – 590 +14; 12. Charleston 293-309 – 602 +26; 13. Furman 301-302 – 603 +27; 14. Maryland 299-305 – 604 +28; 15. Miami 302-303 – 605 +29; 16. Minnesota 305-301 – 606 +30; 17. Wake Forest 307-300 – 607 +31; 18. Penn State 308-304 – 612 +36; 19. UNCG 305-312 – 617 +41; 20. Wisconsin 308-315 – 623 +47; 21. Richmond 315-321 – 636 +60; 22. Charleston Southern 320-323 – 643 +67.
Top 5 Individuals (72-144)
1. Erica Popson, Tennessee, 66-69 -135 -9; 2. Austin Ernst, LSU, 67-69 – 136 -8; 3. Casey Grice, North Carolina, 70-68 – 138 -6; 3. Camilla Hedberg, Florida, 71-67 – 138 -6; 5. Katie Burnett, South Carolina, 73-66 – 139 -5; 5. Tessa Teachman, LSU, 67-72 – 139 -5.
LSU Scores
2. Austin Ernst 67-69 – 136 -8
T5. Tessa Teachman 67-72 – 139 -5
T38. Lindsay Gahm 73-75 – 148 +4
T38. Jacqueline Hedwall 73-75 – 148 +4
T47. Madeline Sagstrom 74-76 – 150 +6