WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — LSU put itself in a qualifying position Thursday, finishing seventh after the first round of the 2001 NCAA Central Regional Golf Qualifying Tournament at the Birch Boilermaker Golf Complex.
Scores were high on the opening day as only three of the 21 teams topped 300 and none of the afternoon wave cracked the top nine. LSU played in the morning wave and came in with a 17-over par 305 total, good enough for seventh place.
The top eight from the tournament will advance to the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championships in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla., May 22-25.
“This is a very difficult golf course and the wind in the morning made things very tough,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “If you miss the fairways, you’re in a pot bunker or who knows what. The girls hung in there and I feel we are in good shape. You want to start in the top eight and stay there. We’ve got the first part accomplished.”
The host Boilermakers showed they knew the course very well, taking the first day lead with a 7-over 295 score, three shots better than Texas at 298, with surprising Kent State at 299. Tulsa at 300 was fourth, followed by New Mexico State at 303 and Oklahoma State at 304 in front of LSU. Baylor and California are tied for the final qualifying spot at 309.
Florida of the SEC was the top team in the afternoon wave getting 10th at 312, while Alabama is in a tie for 12th at 317.
LSU junior Meredith Duncan of Shreveport and Redmond, Wash., senior Lesley McClurg led LSU individually with 3-over 75s, while South Bend, Ind., Katy Harris, playing in front of several members of her family and friends, posted a 5-over 77. Lindy Hitdlebaugh of Gretna posted the final qualifying score of 78.
Duncan and McClurg are tied for 15th in the individual standings, which is led by Stacy Prammanasudh of Tulsa at 2-under 70.
The 54-hole tournament continues through Saturday. LSU and all the first round leaders will play in the afternoon wave on Friday.
NCAA CENTRAL REGIONAL
WOMEN’S GOLF TOURNAMENT
TEAM RESULTS (Par 288)
1. Purdue 295 +7; 2. Texas 298 +10; 3. Kent State 299 +11; 4. Tulsa 300 +12; 5. New Mexico State 303 +15; 6. Oklahoma State 304 +16; 7. LSU 305 +17; 8. Baylor 309 +21; 8. California 309 +21; 10. Florida 312 +24; 11. Oklahoma 314 +26; 12. Alabama 317 +29; 12. Central Florida 317 +29; 14. Minnesota 318 +30; 15. Idaho 319 +31; 15. Texas Tech 319 +31; 15. Nebraska 319 +31; 18. Princeton 321 +33; 19. Texas A&M 324 +36; 20. San Francisco 330 +42; 21. Oral Roberts 333 +45.
Individual Top 5 (par 72)
1. Stacy Prammanasudh, Tulsa, 70 -2; 2. Linda Wessberg, Oklahoma State -1; 2. Kari Damron, Purdue, -1; 4. Heather Zielinski, Purdue, 72 E; 4. Suzie Fisher, Tulsa, 72 E; 4. Vikki Lang, 72 E
LSU Scores
t15. Meredith Duncan 75 +3
t15. Lesley McClurg 75 +3
t28. Katy Harris 77 +5
t36. Lindy Hitdlebaugh 78 +6
86. Isabel Dornellas 83 +11