CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – LSU freshman Kathleen Gallagher and senior Elise Bradley both posted strong rounds of even par 72 and stand in a tie for fifth after the first round of the Lady Tar Heel women’s golf tournament at UNC’s Finley Golf Course.
Gallagher, from Greenwood, Mississippi, had three birdies on her card and Bradley, from Mandeville, had four birdies posted on her total and find themselves just four shots out of the lead of first-round leader Katie Sharp of Michigan State after the opening round. Leona Maguire of Duke posted 69, while Sandy Choi of Duke and Molly Skapik of Louisville at 2-under 70 after the only other ones ahead of the Gallagher-Bradley scores that are part of a group of eight to shoot 72.
LSU as a team had to play shorthanded in the play 5, count 4 format as two-time All-SEC junior Caroline Nistrup of Denmark had to pull out of the first round near the midway point with some wrist pain. She could return to play both Saturday and/or Sunday at the discretion of the LSU coaching staff or the athletic trainers for the event.
LSU as a team with its four remaining players posted a 14-over 302 and is tied for 11th place with Arkansas and Oregon. Duke is the tournament leader at 285 (-3), four shots clear of second place Alabama at 289 with NC State and Louisville tied for third at +4 292.
The Lady Tigers also counted a 4-over 76 from sophomore Claudia DeAntonio and senior Nadine Dreher posted 82. Sophomore Sydney Cavin in the tournament as an individual only participant shot 5-over 77.
Gallagher was one of three golfers on the day to shoot 2-under on the par 4 holes, while Bradley was even par and Bradley was 2-under on the par 5s.
The Lady Tigers will go off in the middle wave starting on the back nine at 8:54 a.m. CT along with Wake Forest and UNC Wilmington.
Live scoring for the event can be found at LSUsports.net. through golfstatresults.com with news on LSU women’s golf at www.Facebook.com/LSUwomensgolf and @LSUwomensgolf on Twitter.
Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational
UNC Finley Golf Course – Chapel Hill, NC
First Round Team Results (Par 288)
1. Duke 285 -3
2. Alabama 289 +1
T3. North Carolina State, Louisville 292 +4
5. Michigan State 293 +5
6. North Carolina 295 +7
7. Virginia 297 +9
8. Auburn 298 +10
T9. Tennessee, South Carolina 299 +11
T11. Arkansas, Oregon, LSU 302 +14
T14. Wake Forest, UNCW 305 +17
16. Baylor 306 +18
17. Rollins College 307 +19
18. Kentucky 308 +20
Individual Top 5 (Par 72)
1. Katie Sharp, Michigan State, 68 -4
2. Leona Maguire, Duke, 69 -3
T3. Sandy Choi, Duke; Molly Skapik, Louisville, 70 -2
T5. Kathleen Gallagher, LSU; Elise Bradley, LSU; Sarah Schmelzel, South Carolina; Shannon Brooks, Tennessee; Cammie Gray, Alabama; Janie Jackson, Alabama; Cheyenne Knight, Alabama; Isabelle Johansson, Kentucky, 72 E
LSU Scores
T5. Kathleen Gallagher 72 E
T5. Elise Bradley 72 E
T47. Claudia DeAntonio 76 +4
T60. Sydney Cavin 77 +5
T89. Nadine Dreher 82 +10
WD. Caroline Nistrup