SUNRIVER, Ore. The sixth-ranked LSU women’s golf team struggled on the back nine on a windy Wednesday afternoon and again the Lady Tigers find themselves in a bit of a bind after the first round of the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championships at the Crosswater Country Club.
The Tigers posted a first-round score of 25-over par 313 and are in a tie for 22nd place in the 24-team field. Two tournaments ago, LSU posted a 321 and was in ninth place on the first day of the Southeastern Conference Championships. Two weeks ago in the NCAA East Regional, LSU was 11th after the first day.
Like the previous two tournaments, there is room for LSU to make some kind of move with 54 holes remaining. The Tigers and many of the tournament favorites struggled home in the wind-blown late afternoon conditions, while the tournament leaders all were able to get home in the morning wave when the winds were near calm.
That will reverse in Thursday’s second round and the Tigers will play in the morning wave along with some of the tournament favorites who are also down in the standings like Duke (plus-11 303) and Arizona State (315 — 26th place).
Oregon is the tournament leader at seven-over par 295, followed by Texas and Georgia, which came in at eight-over 296, all in the morning wave. Purdue and Ohio State, also playing in the morning 12 teams, are tied for fourth at 298.
LSU’s best score was a five-over par score by Kenner senior Lisette Lee, who posted a five-over par 77. That stands in a tie for 61st in the individual standings led by the three under par round of Tulsa’s Stacy Prammanasudh.
New Zealand sophomore Tina Howard and South Bend, Ind., junior Katy Wilkinson each had six-over 78s, while Kenner sophomore Lindy Hitdlebaugh posted an eight-over 80. Shreveport sophomore Meredith Duncan struggled home with a 10-over 82 and her score did not count in the team totals.
LSU turned on the front night at 10 over par, but counted three double bogeys and a bogey on the long par 5 12th and that seemed to send the LSU round into a bit of trouble.
“We have had a problem getting things together in tournaments all year long,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “We had a good round number-wise at the regional, but our position wasn’t that good. It’s a 72-hole tournament and that is something that has to be kept in mind. We’ve got to focus in and make things happen starting on Thursday. Whether playing in the morning wave will help or not remains to be seen.”
LSU’s round begins on Thursday at 11:50 a.m. CDT. The second round of the championships will be televised by ESPN2 from 2-4 p.m. CDT.
NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN’S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS
AT SUNRIVER, OREGON
First Round Team Results (Par 288)
1. Oregon 295 +7; 2. Georgia 296 +8; 2. Texas 296 +8; 4. Ohio State 298 +10; 4. Purdue 298 +10; 6. Arizona 299 +9; 7. Tennessee 301 +13; 7. Stanford 301 +13; 9. Auburn 302 +14; 9. Pepperdine 302 +14; 11. Duke 303 +15; 11. Michigan State 303 +15; 13. New Mexico State 304 +16; 14. Southern California 305 +17; 15. Florida 306 +18; 16. Tulsa 307 +19; 17. Oklahoma 308 +20; 17. San Jose State 308 +20; 17. Wake Forest 308 +20; 20. Nebraska 310 +22; 21. TCU 311 +23; 22. LSU 313 +25; 22. Northwestern 313 +25; 24. Arizona State 315 +27.
Individual Top 5
1. Stacy Prammanasudh, Tulsa, 34-35 69 -3; 2. Marie Boden, Oklahoma State, 36-34 70 -2; 3. Danielle Downey, Auburn, 36-35 71 -1; 4. Angela Jerman, Georgia, 35-36 71 -1; 5. Beth Bauer, Duke, 35-37 72 E; 5. Emily Bastel, Michigan State, 35-37 72 E; 5. Pam Sowden, Oregon, 36-36 72. E.
LSU Scores
t61. Lisette Lee 39-38 77
t73. Katy Wilkinson 38-40 78
t73. Tina Howard 38-40 78
t103. Lindy Hitdlebaugh 39-41 80
t116. Meredith Duncan 39-43 82