FRANKLIN, Tenn. – The 16th-ranked LSU women’s golf team had a solid opening start to its 2015 fall season, finishing in a tie for fourth at the annual Mason Rudolph Championship which concluded Sunday at the Vanderbilt Legends Club South Course.
LSU posted rounds of 288-287-297 to finish at 9-over 873 for the 54-hole 17-team event in which each school plays five and counts four.
On the final day, freshman Kathleen Gallagher posted her best round of the opening event with a 1-over par 73, while LSU’s other freshman in the lineup, Marina Hedlund, posted a 2-over 74. The Lady Tigers also counted a 3-over 75 from junior All-American Caroline Nistrup and a 4-over 76 from one of LSU’s two seniors, Nadine Dreher. Elise Bradley had a 5-over 77.
Nistrup posted a 54-hole total of even par 216 for the three days of play (69-72-75) to finish in a group T17, while the two seniors (Dreher and Bradley) finished T31 at 4-over 220 (Dreher 70-74-76; Bradley 73-70-77). Hedlund finished 5-over 221 (76-71-74, T37), while Gallagher was at 11-over 227 but with improving rounds of 79-75-73.
Alabama was the big winner of the event with a 2-under 286 in the final event to finish at 16-under par 848, one shot clear of Northwestern at 15-under 849 after a 3-under 285 round. Second round leader Georgia finished third at 10-under 854 after 5-over round of 293. LSU tied with Virginia at 9-over 873 for fourth with Houston two shots back with 11-over 875 and host Vanderbilt was seventh at 12-over 876.
LSU had 11 birdies in the final round to go with 57 pars.
The Lady Tigers are back home for a few days before its second event of the fall, a first-time appearance starting Sunday (Sept. 27) in the ANNIKA Invitational at the Reunion Resort-Watson GC in Orlando, Florida. That event will run through Tuesday (Sept. 29).
Mason Rudolph Championship
Franklin, Tenn. – Vandy Legends Club South Course
Final Team Results (Par 288-864)
1. Alabama 282-280-286 – 848 -16
2. Northwestern 283-281-285 – 849 -15
3. Georgia 286-275-293 – 854 -10
t4. LSU 288-287-298 – 873 +9
t4. Virginia 286-289-296 – 873 +9
6. Houston 288-287-292 – 875 +11
7. Vanderbilt 296-286-294 – 876 +12
8. Auburn 287-288-305 – 880 +16
9. GRU Augusta 294-291-298 – 883 +19
10. Louisville 288-292-304 – 884 +20
11. Michigan State 295-299-293 – 887 +23
t12. Middle Tennessee 295-295-296 – 888 +24
t12. South Carolina 302-291-295 – 888 +24
t12. Baylor 298-293-297 – 888 +24
15. UCF 293-301-295 – 889 +25
16. Tulane 299-296-300 – 895 +31
17. Yale 310-313-327 – 950 +86
Individual Top 5 (Par 72-216)
1. Lakareber Abe, Alabama, 67-68-69 – 204 -12
2. Lauren Coughlin, Virginia, 66-71-68 – 205 -11
3. Stephanie Lau, Northwestern, 68-70-68 – 206 -10
4. Harang Lee, Georgia 70-69-72 – 211 -5
T5. Ashley Holder, UCF, 70-72-70; Olivia Cason, Louisville, 69-70-73 – 212 -4
LSU Scores
T17. Caroline Nistrup 69-72-75 – 216 E
T31. Elise Bradley 73-70-77 – 220 +4
T31. Nadine Dreher 70-74-76 – 220 +4
T36. Marina Hedlund 76-71-74 – 221 +5
T60 Kathleen Gallagher 79-75-73 – 227 +11