PARRISH, Fla. — LSU senior golfer Tessa Teachman had the best finish of her LSU career Tuesday, finishing as the runnerup in the Central District Invitational at the River Wilderness Golf Club.
The seventh-ranked LSU women’s golf team was in the mix in a four-way battle for the team title, eventually finishing fourth three shots out of the championship won by TCU.
Teachman had her best rounds in the beginning and the end opening the 36-hole Monday play with a 3-under 69 before falling back to even par with a 3-over 75 in the afternoon round. But Tuesday, she came out firing, getting to 3-under on a couple of occasions on the round before falling back to 1-under. But she birdied her final hole in the shotgun play, the par four third hole for a 2-under round of 70, making her one of just two players to break par over the 54-holes.
Teachman, from Baton Rouge, finished at 2-under 214 (69-75-70), two shots behind wire-to-wire winner Chirpat Jao-Javanil of Oklahoma.
It was Teachman’s second top three of the year after finishing in a tie for third at the season opening Cougar Classic.
LSU shot the best round of any team on the final day, 5-over 293, finishing at 21-over 885. TCU finished on top at 18-over 882 (297-289-296) followed by Oklahoma at 19-over and Vanderbilt at 20-over. After LSU it was host Michigan State two more shots back at 23-over 887.
Also for the Lady Tigers, Madelene Sagstrom and Lindsay Gahm both shot 2-over 74, Jacqueline Hedwall at 3-over 75 and Austin Ernst posted a 5-over 77.
Ernst finished in a tie for 16th at 6-over 222 (68-77-77) as did Sagstrom (74-74-74).
“We were able to win last week because we didn’t make mistakes at the end of the final round,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “We made a few mistakes at the end this time around that kept us out of the lead. But we fought hard all the way again. I’m so happy for Tessa for her career best finish at LSU. She had a great tournament.”
The Lady Tigers will not return home to prepare for their home tournament, March 9-11, at the University Club in Baton Rouge – the LSU Tiger Golf Classic. A total of 14 teams will take part in this year’s test on a U-Club course that should be in outstanding condition thanks to the mild winter.
“We look forward to going back to work to prepare for our home event and certainly invite everyone to join us next month for a special weekend of golf at our home course,” said Bahnsen.
Follow LSU women’s golf on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/LSUwomensgolf and on Twitter @LSUwomensgolf.
CENTRAL DISTRICT INVITATIONAL
Parrish, Fla.
Final Team Results (Par 288-864)
1. TCU 297-289-96 – 882 +18; 2. Oklahoma 291-293-299 – 883 +11; 3. Vanderbilt 293-294-297 – 884 +20; 4. LSU 291-301-293 – 885 +21; 5. Michigan State 295-294-298 – 887 +23; 6. Ohio State 303-294-296 – 893 +29; 7. Iowa State 299-297-298 – 894 +30; 8. North Carolina 294-302-300 – 896; 9. UCF 301-298-300 – 899 +35; 10. Coastal Carolina 297-307-302 – 906 +42; 11. Kent State 310-293-305 – 908 +44; 12. Minnesota 311-311-294 – 916 +52; 13. Northwestern 314-303-305 – 922 +58; 14. Indiana 314-310-305 – 929 +65; 14. Michigan 319-309-301 – 929 +65.
Individual Top 5 (Par 72-216)
1. Chirapat Jao-Javanil, Oklahoma, 68-70-74 – 212 -4; 2. Tessa Teachman, LSU, 69-75-70 – 214 -2; 3. Sasikam On-Lam, Iowa State, 75-72-69 – 216 E; 4. Mercedes Germino, Kent State, 76-68-73 – 217; 4. Amy Meier, Ohio State, 73-71-73 – 217 +1.
LSU Scores
2. Tessa Teachman 69-75-70 – 214 -2
T16. Austin Ernst 68-77-77 – 222 +6
T16. Madelene Sagstrom 74-74-74 – 222 +6
T42. Jacqueline Hedwall 80-75-75 – 230 +14
T59. Lindsay Gahm 81-79-74 – 234 +18