FRANKLIN, Tenn. – The opening round of the Mason Rudolph Fall Preview proved to be a stern test for the 18-team women’s golf field Friday as no team was able to break par and only one individual broke par on the par-72, 6,426 yard Vanderbilt Legends Club layout that will host the NCAA Championships in May 2012.
With cool and damp conditions and new Bermuda greens, the course played much longer than its distance and it took a five-birdie spurt in the last two holes for Southern California to take the first-round lead at four-over par 292, one shot ahead of Arizona State at 293.
LSU is 11 shots off the early pace at 15-over par 303, in a group tied with Florida, Texas A&M and Tennessee for eighth place.
Justine Lee of Arizona State was the only player to break par, shooting one-under 71 to hold the individual lead over seven golfers who shot even par 72.
The Lady Tigers best score came from freshman Madelene Sagstrom and senior Tessa Teachman with three-over 75s. Sophomore Lyndsey Gahm had a four-over 76 and in her first LSU round, junior transfer Katrina Hegge posted a five-over 77. Sophomore Austin Ernst finished at six-over 78
Sagstrom and Teachman are tied for 27th after the first round in the 18-team field.
Tulane is 16th in the 18-team field after the first round with a 21-over 309.
The second round of the event begins at 8 a.m. Saturday with live scoring through LSUsports.net and Golfstat.com. Follow LSU women’s golf on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/LSUwomensgolf and on Twitter @LSUwomensgolf.
MASON RUDOLPH FALL PREVIEW
Franklin, Tenn.
First Round Team Results (Par 288)
1. Southern Cal 292 +4; 2. Arizona State 293 +5; 3. UCLA 296 +8; 3. Alabama 296 +8; 3. Vanderbilt 296 +8; 6. North Carolina 298 +10; 6. Arizona 298 +10; 8. LSU 303 +15; 8. Florida 303 +15; 8. Texas A&M 303 +15; 8. Tennessee 303 +15; 12. Duke 304 +16; 12. Arkansas 304 +16; 12. Virginia 304 +16; 15. California 306 +18; 16. Tulane 309 +21; 17. Georgia 310 +22; 18. Purdue 313 +25.
Top 5 individuals (Par 72)
1. Justine Lee, Arizona State, 71 -1; 2. Courtney Gunter, North Carolina, 72 E; 2. Jennifer Kirby, Alabama, 72 E; 2. Mary Michael Maggio, Texas A&M, 72 E: 2. Giulia Molinaro, Arizona State, 72 E; 2. Sophia Popov, Southern Cal, 72 E; Margarita Ramos, Arizona, 72 E; 2. Lauren Stratton, Vanderbilt, 72 E.
LSU Scores
T27. Madeline Sagstrom 75 +3
T27. Tessa Teachman 75 +3
T42. Lindsay Gahm 76 +4
T50. Katrina Hegge 77 +5
T60. Austin Ernst 78 +6