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Duke Defends; LSU 12th LSU Tiger Golf Classic

by Kent Lowe (@LSUkent)
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Duke Defends; LSU 12th LSU Tiger Golf Classic

BATON ROUGE – The Duke women’s golf team defended its title in wire-to-wire fashion and the No. 1-ranked college golfer posted a little history Sunday as the LSU Tiger Golf Classic came to an end at the University Club.

Duke posted rounds of 285-286-283 to shoot 10-under 854 to successfully defend its 2016 title and win for the fourth time in the history of the tournament. They are only the third team with at least four titles in the 36-year history over the event, joining LSU (8) and Florida State (4).

The 10-under total of 854 is three shots lower than the previous 54-hole total post-2010 renovation of the University Club layout when Florida and South Carolina tied for the 2016 NCAA Regional title on this course at 857. The 854 is the third lowest 54-hole score by a women’s collegiate team since the Lady Tigers tournament moved here in 2000.

Leona Maguire showed off her ranking, leading from start-to-finish in the individual competition. On Friday in the 36-hole day she posted rounds of 67-68 and after a birdie on the par-5 11 moved into double figures at 10-under par. She birdied two more holes mid-final nine before a double bogey on the par 3 16th dropped her back to 10-under for the 54-holes and 206.

Maguire becomes the first player to finish 54 holes at double digits since the renovation with rounds of 67-68-71 and it is just the fourth double-digit under par score since the first women’s tournament in 2000.

Maguire played the par 4 holes in 5-under par and the par 5 holes in -7.

Maguire finished four shots in front of teammate Virginia Elena Carta who shot 70 in the final round to finish at 210 (-6). Cara Gorlei of Arkansas shot 71 to finish at 3-under 213, the only three players to finish under par for 54 holes.

Duke won by 18 shots over Oklahoma State, which posted even par 288 on the final day to finish at 8-over 872, one shot better than three-time Classic winner Arkansas at 9-over 873 (289). NC State and Denver finished fourth at 16-over 880.

LSU’s Day
LSU came home at 304 on the final day to finish in 12th place at 45-over par 304 (306-299-304).

LSU counted a 74 from sophomore Kathleen Gallagher and 75s from junior Sydney Cavin and senior Caroline Nistrup. Junior Claudia De Antonio and senior Lana Hodge both had 80s. Freshman Monica Dibildox had the co-low round of the 15 individual players not in the team competition with a 75.

“This has kind of been the story of our season,” LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen said afterwards. “We are so close. We get three decent scores and can’t get a fourth score. We will be tooling along just great and then we will have a big number and that’s kind of been the story of this team. We are trying to stay really positive with the team because we are so close and let’s just keep on learning. I do see some positives in everything, we are so close to turning the corner. They are trying so hard. They are fighting for it.”

Cavin had a consistent tournament with rounds of 74-74-75 to finish T26 at 223, while Gallagher posted 78-73-74 to finish at 225 (T32). Nistrup rallied strongly from an opening 83 Friday morning to shoot 1-under 71 in the afternoon and came back with 75 to finish at 229 and in a group T43. Freshman Dibildox

Sydney Cavin was LSU’s top player with a T26 finish of 7-over after consistent rounds of 74-74-75. Kathleen Gallagher finished in a group T32 at 9-over 225 (78-73-74). Senior All-America Caroline Nistrup in her final tournament at the U-Club, rallied well from a tough first round to shoot 75 on the final day and finish at 13-over 229, T43.

Dibildox ended up T57 at 233 after shooting 73-75 in the final 36 holes.

Gallagher and Cavin both finished with 10 birdies to lead LSU and Dibildox had the most pars at 37 or the 54 holes. Nistrup played the par three holes for the three days at -2, one off the tournament leader. Gallagher was the leader for the Tigers on par 5 holes at -4.

Of the tournament and the play by Duke and individual winner Maguire, Bahnsen said: “We played the 36-hole round (with Duke and Maguire) and we saw a lot of it. She doesn’t do anything spectacular because she doesn’t make those mental mistakes and the big numbers. That’s what makes her a great player. Also she is an incredible putter. So to see her come in and post those kind of numbers.

“This is not an easy golf course,” the LSU Coach continued. “Duke specifically comes here … (Coach) Dan Brooks told me because it makes his team better especially heading into post-season play. You can’t fall asleep at the wheel on this golf course. You have to really think and his players say the same thing. It’s great to have that attitude. You have to stay on top of it. That was a great score.”

LSU TIGER GOLF CLASSIC
Baton Rouge, Louisiana – University Club
Final Team Results (Par 288-864)
1 Duke 285-286-283 – 854 -10; 2. Oklahoma State 298-286-288 – 872 +8; 3. Arkansas 293-291-289 – 873 +9; T4. NC State 290-298-292 – 880 +16; T4. Denver 300-295-285 – 880 +16; 6. Missouri 300-304-292 – 896 +32; T7. Clemson 301-301-295 – 897 +33; T7. SMU 301-294-302 – 897 +33; 9. UNCW 301-301-300 – 902 +38; 10. Washington 293-306-304 – 903 +39; 11. Kansas 294-310-301 – 905 +41; 12. LSU 306-299-304 – 909 +45; 13. Kentucky 305-311-304 – 920 +56; 14. UTSA 306-317-298 – 921 +57; 15. Tulane 313-320-301 – 934 +70.

Individual Top 10 (Par 72-216)
1 Leona Maguire, Duke, 67-68-71 – 206 -10; 2. Virginia Elena Carta, Duke, 73-67-70 – 210 -6; 3. Cara Gorlei, Arkansas, 72-70-71 – 213 -3; 4. Kenzie Neisen, Oklahoma State, 76-71-69 – 216 E; T5. Maddie McCrary, Oklahoma State, 73-75-69 – 217 +1; T5. India Clyburn, NC State, 72-73-72 – 217 +1; T5. Maris Fassi, Arkansas, 74-71-72 – 217 +1; T8. Yitsen Chou, Kansas, 71-73-74 – 218 +2; T8. Sarah Bae, NC State, 69-74-75 – 218 +2; Lindsey McCurdy, SMU, 71-73-74 – 218 +2.

LSU Scores
T26. Sydney Cavin 74-74-75 – 223 +7
T32. Kathleen Gallagher 78-73-74 – 225 +9
T43. Caroline Nistrup 83-71-75 – 229 +13
T57. Monica Dibildox 85-73-75 – 223 +17
T70. Claudia De Antonio 74-83-80 – 237 +21
75. Marina Hedlund 81-79-79 – 240 +24
T80. Carly Goldstein 82-77-82 – 241 +25
T80. Lana Hodge 80-81-80 – 241 +25