BATON ROUGE — In a day of survival in the second round of the LSU/Cleveland Golf Classic at the University Club, the ninth-ranked LSU women’s golf team, not only survived, it persevered and advanced forward.
The Lady Tigers, on a day when winds averaged between 20-to-30 miles per hour the entire day, managed a score 11 strokes better than any one else in the field of 12 and managed to post four scores in the 70s on a day when the average score was 83.60.
LSU shot a 22-over par 310, an outstanding score for the conditions, and have a 36-hole total of 38-over par. That apparently puts LSU in a commanding position to capture its first LSU-hosted women’s title since 1998 and its fifth in the 19 years of the tournament, which was held for the first 18 years at the Fairwood Country Club in Baton Rouge.
LSU’s total of 614 is 21 shots better than second place Mississippi State, which moved from seventh to second with a 59-over par 635 total. From second to sixth is really up for grabs, with South Florida one shot back in third (636) and Arkansas and Tulane two shots back in fourth (637). Ole Miss is sixth at 642.
What appears, though, to be setting up is an outstanding individual battle as just five shots separate the top 10 and four of them are LSU golfers.
New Zealand sophomore Tina Howard is tied for the individual lead with first-round leader Kelly Martin of South Florida. Martin, who posted the only even par round of 72 on Friday, posted an 80 on Saturday to stand at eight-over 152. Howard followed a 77 with a three-over par 75, equaling the low round of the day, to also come in at 152.
Lindy Hitdlebaugh, the sophomore from Gretna, who began the tournament as LSU’s No. 5 player, was again a big counter for the Tigers with a 79 to go with her first-round 73. She stands at nine-over 153, one shot back.
Just two shots out of the lead is the consistent Shreveport sophomore Meredith Duncan, who is going for a fourth straight top 10 finish. She stands at 154 (10 over) after rounds of 76 and 78. She is tied with Pam Buff of Tulane, who also shot 75 on the afternoon.
Anna Gertsson of Mississippi State (79-76) and Marci Kornegay of Ole Miss (75-80) are tied for sixth at 11-over 155. LSU senior Lisette Lee of Kenner is in a group tied for eighth place at 13-over 157.
“The conditions were so difficult all day long,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “Obviously, the scores are very high and that’s a shame because these are very good golfers. But I can’t tell you how proud I am of the LSU team. Everyone of them. It was a strong performance. They just worked hard on shot-after-shot and it really showed.”
If an LSU golfer can win the individual title to go with an expected LSU team title, it will mark the first time the Lady Tigers have swept the titles since 1986 when LSU won at Fairwood and Jenny Lidback won a playoff to get the individual honors.
LSU/Cleveland Golf Classic
At University Club, Baton Rouge
Team Results (Par 288-576)
1. LSU 304-310 — 614 +38
2. Mississippi State 314-321 — 635 +59
3. South Florida 308-328 — 636 +60
4. Arkansas 310-327 — 637 +61
4. Tulane 312-325 — 637 +61
6. Mississippi 318-324 — 642 +66
7. NC Wilmington 318-327 — 645 +69
8. Alabama 313-335 — 648 +72
9. SMU 310-340 — 650 +74
10. Memphis 324-328 — 652 +76
11. North Texas 321-333 — 654 +78
12. Arkansas-Little Rock 322-334 — 656 +80
Top 25 Individuals (Par 72-144)
1. Tina Howard, LSU 77-75 — 152 +8
1. Kelly Martin, S. Florida 72-80 — 152 +8
3. Lindy Hitdlebaugh, LSU 74-79 — 153 +9
4. Meredith Duncan, LSU 76-78 — 154 +10
4. Pam Buff, Tulane 79-75 — 154 +10
6. Anna Gertsson, Miss. State 79-76 — 155 +11
6. Marci Kornegay, Ole Miss 75-80 — 155 +11
8. Lisette Lee, LSU 77-80 — 157 +13
8. Heather McMunn, NC Wilmington 75-82 — 157 +13
8. Johanna Danielsson, Arkansas 78-79 — 157 +13
11. Robyn Rinaldo, Ole Miss 81-77 — 158 +14
11. Ashley Mitchell, SMU 76-82 — 158 +14
11. Teresa Brown, Ole Miss 77-81 — 158 +14
14. Linda Johnson, NC Wilmington 81-78 — 159 +15
14. Marcela Gonzales, Tulane 78-81 — 159 +15
14. Paula Carter, Alabama 76-83 — 159 +15
14. Sue Phillips, Miss. St. 81-78 — 159 +15
14. Pia Josefsson, Miss. St. 78-81 — 159 +15
19. Angie Connell, S. Florida 80-80 — 160 +16
19. Nina Reis, N. Texas 79-81 — 160 +16
19. Danielle Netschi, SMU 77-83 — 160 +16
19. Marianne Ruud, Memphis 80-80 — 160 +16
19. Kristy Kortuem, Arkansas 77-83 — 160 +16
19. Jessica Hayes, S. Florida 76-84 — 160 +16
19. Katy Wilkinson, LSU 82-78 — 160 +16
19. Sandra Hellsvik, Memphis 79-81 — 160 +16
LSU Scores
t1. Tina Howard 77-75 — 152 +8
3. Lindy Hitdlebaugh 74-79 — 153 +9
t4. Meredith Duncan 76-78 — 154 +10
t8. Lisette Lee 77-80 — 157 +13
t19. Katy Wilkinson 82-78 — 160 +16
t57. Rebecca Barrow 80-91 — 171 +27
t65. Missy Ballew 87-90 — 177 +33
t65. Erin Sarver 85-92 — 177 +33