CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The third-ranked Lady Tiger golf team looks to improve on a strong second place showing of a year ago in this event when they begin play in the 36th annual Tar Heel Invitational Friday at the UNC Finley Golf Course.
LSU posted a 10-under par round of 278 on the final day to finish second in the event at 16-under par for the 54-hole total, behind only Southeastern Conference rival Alabama. With good weather in the forecast, more low scores may be in play on the par 72, 6,285-yard home course of the Tar Heels.
The first round begins Friday with tee times off No. 1 and No. 10 at 7:51 a.m. CDT with LSU going off in the second wave off the first tee with North Carolina State and Notre Dame.
A total of 12 teams of the 18 entered are in the recent Golf World/NGCA coaches poll which had the Lady Tigers are No. 3 and host North Carolina at No. 5. The other ranked teams in the field are: No. 4 Alabama, No. 6 Virginia, No. 10 Georgia, No. 11 Duke, No. 13 Arkansas, No. 14 Tennessee, No. 16 Auburn, No. 21 Michigan State, No. 23 North Carolina State and No. 24 Wake Forest. Also in the field are South Carolina, Chattanooga, Coastal Carolina, Louisville, Notre Dame and Tulane.
“We are looking to get back on the course, especially at a venue where we have had success in the past,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “But we can’t rest on last year, we have to concentrate on each hole, make good shots and not worry about what others are shooting. This group just needs to do what they are capable and take it one shot at a time around the course.”
LSU will be led again by defending NCAA champion, sophomore Austin Ernst with seniors Tessa Teachman and Jacqueline Hedwall. For Hedwall the event marks her return to college golf after missing LSU’s last event while she was in Ireland, caddying for her sister Caroline in Europe’s win over the United States in the Solheim Cup.
LSU will also send out the Big 10 Freshman of the Year at Indiana, sophomore transfer Lyndsey Gahm and the young freshman who is doing good things for the Lady Tigers from Sweden, Madelene Sagstrom.
This is the third of four fall events for the women’s golf team. The 54-hole event runs through Sunday and 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.