NEW ORLEANS — Members of the LSU women’s golf team experienced the Zurich Classic of New Orleans PGA event from inside the ropes Wednesday as members of the team caddied for pro Justin Rose and his pro-am partners at the TPC of Avondale, site of the tournament that begins on Thursday.
Also, LSU Athletics Director Joe Alleva took part in the pro-am event and played with past Zurich Classic champion and former LSU All-American David Toms in his group.
Coach Karen Bahnsen, senior Caroline Martens and former player now Ole Miss Assistant Coach Alexis Rather took part in the event along with LSU’s leading player, sophomore Megan McChrystal.
“It was a great learning experience for the girls,” said Bahnsen, whose eighth-ranked Lady Tiger team is waiting for its NCAA regional assignment next Monday. “It was really a wonderful time.”
McChrystal wrote down some of her thoughts after the day of fun and learning at the Classic for LSUsports.net. Also, be sure and check out the picture gallery on the site from LSU staff photographer Steve Franz.
Here’s what McChrystal checked in with:
“(Wednesday) Caroline, our former teammate Alexis Rather and I were lucky enough to get the chance to caddy at the Pro Am of the Zurich Classic.
“The weather was perfect and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. We enjoyed caddying in Justin Rose’s group and loved tagging along inside the ropes. It was quite the amazing experience to be inside the ropes of a PGA tournament pro-am. We picked up on little things and were able to pick Justin’s brain.
“He was extremely friendly and gladly answered our questions. Justin interacted well with all of us and the pro-am partner. We enjoyed the southern hospitality and all the great food and music. It was such an awesome experience spending time down there seeing how a pro plays a round before a tournament. He really got into the round and gave the other players pointers. There are many things to take from today, and I feel blessed to be able to participate.”