BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. — The 18th-ranked Lady Tigers golf team opened up mid-pack after the first round of the 15-team Lady Gamecock Classic at South Carolina’s University Club here Friday.
The Lady Tigers are in eighth-place at 14-over par 302, 14 shots behind Texas at even par 288. The Lady Longhorns are trying to stop the four-year tournament win streak of Duke, second after the first round on the 5,996 yard, par 72 course at 2-over 290. Tennessee and South Carolina are tied for third at 7-over 295, with Vanderbilt and Purdue tied for fifth at 8-over 296. New Mexico is right ahead of LSU in seventh at 12-over 300.
Five players shot 1-under par to share the individual lead: Niloufar Aazam-Zanganeh of Duke, Adrienne Gautreaux of South Carolina, Janice Olivencia of Texas and Jessica Shepley and Young-A Yang of Tennessee.
The Tigers star senior, Meredith Duncan of Shreveport, led LSU with a 2-over round of 74 and is in a group of players tied for 19th, three strokes out of the lead. It was a consistent round for LSU as Lindy Hitdlebaugh, Isabel Dornellas and Brooke Shelton all shot 4-over 76 to complete the team total.
“We were very consistent, but obviously need to try to improve over this golf course to try to move up,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “The scores are low and we just need to grind out a few more holes to take our scores down a notch.”
The 54-hole tournament runs through Sunday.
LADY GAMECOCK CLASSIC
Blythewood, S. C.
Team Results (Par 288)
1. Texas 288 E; 2. Duke 290 +2; 3. Tennessee, South Carolina 295 +7; 5. Vanderbilt, Purdue 296 +8; 7. New Mexico 300 +12; 8. LSU 302 +14; 9. Wake Forest 304 +16; 10. Texas A&M 309 +21; 11. Florida State 310 +22; 12. North Carolina, Kentucky 311 +23; 14. Alabama 315 +27; 15. Furman 319 +31.
Individual Top 5 (Par 72)
1. N. Aazam-Zanganeh, Duke, 36-35 – 71 -1; Adrienne Gautreaux, South Carolina, 36-35 – 71 -1; Janice Olivencia, Texas, 35-36 – 71 -1; Jessica Shepley, Tennessee, 36-35 – 71 -1; Young-A Yang, Tennessee, 36-35 – 71 -1.
LSU Scores
t19. Meredith Duncan 37-37 – 74 +2;
t31. Lindy Hitdlebaugh 39-37 – 76 +4
t31. Isabel Dornellas 35-41 – 76 +4
t31. Brooke Shelton 40-36 – 76 +4
t77. Devon Day 42-44 – 86 +14
80. Erin Sarver 50-44 – 94 +22