LEXINGTON, Ky. — Coming off their best rounds of the season, the young LSU women’s golf team will try to make some noise this weekend as the annual Southeastern Conference Women’s Golf Championships begin Friday at the University of Kentucky University Club.
This marks the first time the tournament has been held in Lexington in 12 years and will be played on the Club’s par-72, 6,153-yard “Big Blue” Championship Course.
Six teams in the championship field are found in the Golf Week/Sagarin top 25 rankings — No. 7 Auburn, No. 8 Vanderbilt, No. 10 Tennessee, No. 11 Florida, No. 15 Georgia and No. 16 South Carolina. The tournament also will feature 11 of the nation’s top-50 individuals, including No. 10 Jessica Shepley (Tennessee), No. 12 Violeta Retamoza (Tennessee), No. 13 Celeste Troche (Auburn) and two-time defending SEC medalist No. 15 Kristy McPherson (South Carolina).
In 2002, South Carolina took first place behind a seven-under par performance by McPherson. The Lady Gamecocks edged Auburn by three strokes, while McPherson won the medal with a 209, two strokes ahead of Vanderbilt’s Nicki Cutler. Deb Richards of UF (1982-’84) is the only SEC women’s golfer to take home three-straight individual medals. In 22 years of SEC Women’s Golf, the Georgia Lady Bulldogs have won 10 team championships. The Lady Gators are a close second, with seven titles under their belt.
None of the teams had the opportunity to complete their practice rounds Thursday as over an inch of rain fell between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. and more was forecast throughout the afternoon. Most of the teams put up the clubs after nine holes and walked or rode the back nine in a heavy downpour trying to get a feel for the two-year old course. By early afternoon, many of the fairways and greens were beginning to show signs of standing water.
The Tiger golf team will use the same lineup that opened the LSU/Cleveland Classic with season best rounds of 300 and 299 before finishing fourth in the event. Vicky Meyer, with some 12 days rest off her left foot which because of a strained tendon forced her to play the LSU event on nearly one foot, will lead the Tigers and will be joined by Brooke Shelton, Devon Day, Isabel Dornellas and Rachel Overstreet.
“We look forward to this event and the chance to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals,” said LSU Coach Karen Bahnsen. “We would have to play our best golf of the year to have a chance to win this event, but we have nothing to lose and the girls are certainly feeling more confident after the LSU tournament.”
Kentucky, Arkansas and Ole Miss will open the tournament on Friday, April 18, with the first tee time scheduled for 8 a.m CDT. All 12 squads will field teams of five, counting the top four scores in each round.
Mississippi State, LSU State and Alabama are scheduled to tee off at 8:50 a.m., followed by Florida, Georgia and Vanderbilt at 9:40 a.m. Tennessee, Auburn and defending champion South Carolina will hit the first tee box at 10:30 a.m.
Round two is scheduled for Saturday and the final round on Easter Sunday with live scoring for the event available at www.golfstat.com.
LSU Women’s Golf
SEC Tournament History
| Year | Winner | LSU Finish (Score) |
| 2002 | South Carolina | 8th (921) |
| 2001 | Georgia | 2nd (877) |
| 2000 | Auburn | 2nd (919) |
| 1999 | Georgia | 4th (918) |
| 1998 | Georgia | 2nd (899) |
| 1997 | Georgia | 2nd (905) |
| 1996 | Auburn | 2nd (607) |
| 1995 | Florida | 3rd (938) |
| 1994 | Georgia | 8th (938) |
| 1993 | Georgia | 8th (634) |
| 1992 | LSU | 1st (892) |
| 1991 | Florida | 5th (951) |
| 1990 | Georgia | 3rd (624) |
| 1989 | Auburn | 6th (949) |
| 1988 | Georgia | 3rd (890) |
| 1987 | Florida | 5th (943) |
| 1986 | Florida | 5th (940) |
| 1985 | Georgia | 6th (940) |
| 1984 | Florida | 5th (933) |
| 1983 | Georgia | 5th (946) |
| 1982 | Florida | 4th (946) |
| 1981 | Florida | 3rd (910) |