BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – LSU is closing in on a spot in match play quarterfinals on Saturday after moving up two spots in the 2019 SEC Women’s Golf Championship at the Greystone Golf and Country Club Legacy Course. The Tigers moved into eighth place in the team standings after shooting a combined 4-over in the second round of stroke play.
Freshman Presley Baggett was the top player for LSU on Thursday, shooting a career-low 2-under 70 to end up tied for 10th place in the individual standings at par 144. Baggett made three birdies to shoot 3-under on the back nine, where LSU started for the second day in a row. She finished up the front nine at 1-over to hit the top mark for LSU.
“It was a solid day for us highlighted by Presley shooting her career low round,” said LSU first-year head coach Garrett Runion. “Our two upperclassmen showed their experience and grinded out two very important rounds of 73 to put us in a good position to make match play.”
Veterans Kathleen Gallagher and Monica Dibildox each shot 1-over 73s on Thursday. Gallagher, a senior, made a nice recovery on the front nine of 3-under after shooting 4-over on the back nine to start the round. Dibildox shot even par through her first 13 holes of the round. The junior stayed on par after a bogey on No. 5 to keep LSU in the hunt for a spot in match play. Freshman Alden Wallace shot a 4-over 76 to count in the team score, while sophomore Kendall Griffin shot 6-over 78.
“We are looking forward to tomorrow for a number of reasons,” continued Runion. “One, having a chance to make match play for the first time and two, because the weather front that is going through Baton Rouge today will be hitting us. So tomorrow’s round will be in cold, windy and wet conditions, something that we have played in all season and feel like we have an advantage when we do. It should be an exciting round tomorrow with all of the teams bunched up around that magic number 8.”
LSU will be paired up with No. 35 Ole Miss and No. 47 Mississippi State for Round 3 on Friday, teeing off from Hole No. 1 at 8 a.m. LSU is battling for one of the top eight spots in the team standings to advance to the quarterfinals of match play on Saturday, April 20. Live scoring will be available at GolfStat.com.
2019 SEC Championship Team Standings (After Round 2)
1. #12 Florida – 284-283 – 567 -9
2. #11 South Carolina – 287-286 – 573 -3
3. #6 Arkansas – 291-287 – 578 +2
4. #40 Georgia – 293-286 – 579 +3
5. #14 Auburn – 284-298 – 582 +6
6. #4 Vanderbilt – 296-288 – 584 +8
7. #35 Ole Miss – 298-290 – 588 +12
8. LSU – 299-292 – 591 +15
9. #47 Mississippi State – 294-298 – 592 +16
10. #36 Alabama – 301-292 – 593 +17
10. Texas A&M – 300-293 – 593 +17
12. #41 Tennessee – 294-300 – 594 +18
13. Missouri – 299-298 – 597 +21
14. Kentucky – 304-299 – 603 +27
LSU Individual Results (After Round 2)
T10. Presley Baggett – 74-70 – 144 E
T38. Kathleen Gallagher – 76-73 – 149 +5
T46. Monica Dibildox – 77-73 – 150 +6
T46. Kendall Griffin – 72-78 – 150 +6
68. Alden Wallace – 83-76 – 159 +15