The Lady Tigers couldn’t quite make up a 12-stroke deficit to Florida State on Sunday at the LSU-Cleveland Golf Classic, but they nipped right at their heels for several minutes midway through the final nine holes, before settling for a second-place finish, six shots behind the Seminoles, who went wire-to-wire to win their fourth LSU title.
The Lady Tigers shot the second-best round of the tournament at two-over 290 on the final day to finish at 26-over 890. Florida State shot a 298 to win with a three-day total of 20-over par 880.
The Lady Tigers finished in front of ninth-ranked Wake Forest (3rd at 894), 11th-ranked Alabama (5th at 897), 14th-ranked Georgia (6th at 898) and 22nd-ranked Virginia (7th at 905).
LSU senior Rebecca Kuhn and freshman Megan McChrystal shot one-under par 71s. Senior Alexis Rather had an even par 72 and junior Caroline Martens a 76. Although not part of the team competition, freshman Lindy LaBauve shot a final round of two-under par 70.
“It was so obvious the first few days that we were tight,” LSU coach Karen Bahnsen said. “They were feeling the pressure of playing at home. The first two days the course played as long as it possibly could the first two days, but (Sunday) the wind was helping the players. I could tell this morning that they were relaxed and the way we finished, I could tell we are heading in the right direction.”
Florida’s Caroline Westrup won the individual competition, backing up her Saturday 68 with a Sunday 67 for an eight-under 208 (73-68-67), the second lowest LSU-Cleveland Classic winning total at the University Club. Lauren Doughtie of North Carolina State was second at four-under 212 (72-69-71).
LSU-Cleveland Golf Classic
The University Club
Final Team Results (288-864)
1. Florida State 293-294-297 – 884 +20; 2. LSU 300-300-290 – 890 +26; 3. Wake Forest 300-300-294 – 894 +30; 4. North Carolina State 303-298-295 – 896 +32; 5. Alabama 302-297-298 – 897 +33; 6. Georgia 302-299-297 – 898 +34; 7. Virginia 309-307-289 – 905 +41; 8. Louisville 301-301-304 – 906 +42; 8. North Carolina 302-301-303 – 606 +42; 10. South Carolina 306-306-302 – 914 +50; 10. Central Florida 302-304-308 – 914 +50; 12. Charleston 309-305-303 – 917 +53; 13. Augusta State 317-304-302 – 923 +59; 14. Kentucky 308-312-305 – 925 +61; 15. Mississippi State 315-311-302 – 928 +64; 16. North Carolina Wilmington 313-313-313 – 939 +75; 17. Mississippi 316-317-309 – 942 +78.
Individual Top 20 (Par 72-216)
1. Caroline Westrup, Florida State, 73-68-67 – 208 -8; 2. Lauren Doughtie, North Carolina State, 72-69-71 – 212 -4; 3. Rebecca Kuhn, LSU, 71-73-71 – 215 -1; 4. Stephanie Connelly, Central Florida, 73-70-73 – 216 E; 5. Krystle Caithness, Georgia, 75-72-72 – 219 +3; 5. Benedicte Toumpsin, South Carolina, 73-73-73 – 219 +3; 7. Megan McChrystal, LSU, 76-74-71 – 221 +5; 8. Rhea Nair, Alabama, 75-72-75 – 222 +6; 8. Steffi Kirchmayr, Charleston, 75-74-73 – 222 +6; 8. Ann Laney, North Carolina, 74-74-74 – 222 +6; 11. Laura Crawford, Wake Forest, 70-78-75 – 223 +7; 11. Lene Krog, Virginia, 77-74-72 – 223 +7; 11. Joy Kim, Virginia, 76-72-75 – 223 +7; 11. Whitney Wright, Florida State, 70-75-78 – 223 +7; 11. Dori Carter, Mississippi, 76-74-73 – 223 +7; 11. Garrett Phillips, Georgia, 73-74-76 – 223 +7; 11. Joanna Klatten, Charleston, 77-74-72 – 223 +7; 18. Courtney Harter, Alabama, 75-77-72 – 224 +8; 18. Alexis Rather, LSU, 76-76-72 – 224 8; 18. Sara-Maude Juneau, Louisville, 76-75-73 – 224 +8.
When it comes time to go to work, Cypress Bend head professional Ken Rams doesn't turn on the radio or television for the local traffic slowdowns. He instead checks for the speed and direction of the wind and the temperature in remote Many, a town located on the west side of the liquid line that separates
Rams lives right next to the water in
"When the weather is suitable, it takes me about five minutes to get across the lake by boat," Rams said. "If I drove my truck it would take 35-40 minutes to travel the 26 miles one way."
Rams anchors his boat in the high reeds of the lake's inlet by the 10th fairway of the course, and either walks the 300 yards uphill to the clubhouse or takes a cart left for him by staff. He has a long, thick plank hidden in among the lily pads and cypress trees so when he steps off his boat he won't get his shoes wet.
Rams' use of a boat to get to work is a reflection of the slower pace taken by most residents of this part of the world. "When I came down here from
This is Rams' first job at a golf course; he's ascended from volunteer to paid marshal to cart attendant to assistant pro to head pro in his 10 years at Cypress Bend.
"I enjoy fishing, so we came down here two to three times every year," Rams said. "I would go fishing and my wife would visit with her parents. During those years of vacationing on Toledo Bend my wife and I decided that this would be a good place to retire. About 10 years ago, my mother-in-law came down with cancer and she soon passed away. My father-in -law willed the house (in Hemphill) to me and my wife since we enjoyed it so much down here."
There have been a few times that Rams' run across the lake has been more adventurous than others. He easily remembers when he was on the lake and things turned ugly, as high winds, rain and waves almost kept him from getting back to
"The first half of the trip I was protected by the shore, but when I got to the open water it was like an ocean," Rams said. "There must have been 7-foot waves, and there was one wave that I got on top of and went down the other side and I thought I was going under. Water came up over the bow of the boat, and it scared the hell out me. I don't think that I have ever been that scared in a boat before. After that wave I decided to get up on top of the next one and ride it across the lake. I finally made it, but I was wet and shaken up little. Needless to say I had a newfound respect for this lake."
Since then there have been several other times that storms have come in after Rams had taken his boat to work, and instead he just drove the company vehicle home. "I have had so many good times coming across it's hard to pick just one," Rams said. "I do remember when the Bassmasters were in the area. Where they launch, their boats cross my path going to work, so I had to stop and wait for these boats racing across the lake to get out of my way. Also I have stopped numerous times to do a little fishing before I get to work. Just the other day I was fishing and I saw two bald eagles flying overhead."
Rams is currently an apprentice working towards his PGA membership. Cypress Bend's golf course has three full-time employees, and during the summer Rams usually hires two or three more outside attendants. Even then he works about four and a half days a week and plays in the course's Sunday afternoon scramble.
"We do approximately 20,000 rounds a year at Cypress Bend," Rams said. "I've been here 10 years, and the trend has leveled out the past several years. When we first opened we did 30,000 rounds, but we were new and people wanted to play the new course. We do alright for what we are trying to do."
Steve Habel is an Austin, Texas-based journalist. Since 1990, he has traveled around the globe covering news, business and sports assignments for various news bureaus, newspapers, magazines and websites. He also contributes to Business District magazine in
Okay, so I wouldn't know a Spotted Sandpiper (artitis macularia) from a Roseate Spoonbill (Andea alba). However, as a traveling golfer (linkus crazius I know an exciting golf destination when I find one. Named for the noted 19th century naturist and bird lover, John James Audubon, the Audubon Golf Trail of Louisiana combines excellent, nature-friendly courses with pocketbook-friendly green fees - a delightful one-two punch. After a recent golf trip there, I may have discovered my inner ornithologist. Was that a Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) that just watched me (sandtrapus ineptus) take three shots to get out of that bunker?
Ever wonder where those migratory birds flying south for the winter head? Many set down and winter happily in the wetlands west of the Mississippi River in northern
Black Bear
As the newest member of the Trail, Black Bear is the perfect place to start your
Built near the 3,000-acre reservoir which is the centerpiece of the
For more details, visit www.blackbear-golf.com; cost: $37 weekdays, $49 weekends.
Calvert Crossing
One of the great aspects to the Trail is that you're never more than two hours from the next course. Just down the road an hour due west as the Barred owl (Strix varia) flies is stately Calvert Crossing in Calhoun. Built on over 400 acres and with almost every hole lined with tall pines and grand white oaks, Calvert Crossing is golf and nature coexisting in wonderful harmony. There are thousands of potential spots for birds to nest happily in and around the well-groomed fairways and greens.
Throughout the 6,822-yard design, water comes into play on 10 holes so attention must be paid before simply bombing away with your driver. Throttle it down a bit and enjoy the lush surroundings of a superlative golfing playground. Afterwards, savor your round with a drink in Mulligan's - the friendly bar in the clubhouse. The local natives (
For details, visit www.calvertgolf.com; cost: $55 weekdays, $67 weekends.
Olde Oaks
Two hours west of Calhoun on Interstate 20 takes us to bustling
Each nine is a world onto itself. The Meadow Nine, probably the most stalwart of the three, covers the lowlands and requires strategic thinking to be played well. However, "what you see is what you get" and well-placed drives are rewarded with easier approaches to the devious greens.
The Oak Nine is the most visually appealing of the three layouts as the holes flow through swaths of majestic oaks in full foliage and singing birds providing the background music. The two par-5s on this side, the 1st and 6th, are fabulous and require you to know your golfing limitations before challenging the water hazards (golfballus interruptus) protecting par.
The Cypress Nine is the most open side and allows you to loosen your collared shirt and air it out a bit as the holes are routed through a neighborhood of stately homes so grand you wonder if Bruce Wayne lives somewhere close by. Don't worry about hitting any of these estates with your wild slice or hook as they're set well back from the course. Olde Oaks is a gem.
For details, visit www.oldeoaksgolf.com; cost: $44 weekdays, $49 weekends.
Two hours drive south from
The golf course features 10 holes along the lakefront and six times you hit shots over inlets and coves just waiting to add your ball to a watery grave. The par-3 17th of 128 yards plays to a green perched on the edge of the lake and is as pretty a golf hole as you'll find anywhere. The finisher - a stout par-4 of 341 yards - plays much longer as it's uphill. A par there deserves a drink in the nearby resort lounge complete with a beguiling view back over the course and lake. Cypress Bend certainly has its charms.
For more information, visit www.cypressbend.com; cost: $55 weekdays, $70 weekend.
Gray Plantation
As if saving the best for last, my final round was at Gray Plantation in
Hurricane Rita - a Category 5 storm - roared through
The final hole is a brutish par-4 of 439 yards that plays directly up to the elegant clubhouse. Two stout hits are necessary to find a putting surface surrounded by a series of evil bunkers. It's a great end to an excellent layout. After the round, I sat out on the wide veranda and enjoyed the club's crawfish boil with the cheerful locals which made me yearn to trace my family tree for Cajun roots.
For more information, visit www.graywoodllc.com; $50 weekdays, $65 weekends.
Summing Up . . .
Both bird- and golfer-friendly, the Audubon Golf Trail has another seven courses I didn't play with similar low green fees and high-caliber wildlife. In addition to great golf perhaps you'll spot a Green Heron (Butorides virescens) or even a
That prospect makes me one happy golfer (smilio hackeris).
For more information about
David Wood - writer, corporate speaker, and humorist - is the author of the soon-to-be published book "Around the World in Eighty Rounds." With several appearances on "Late Night with David Letterman," Wood combines humor with his love for golf and adventurous travel. For comments or inquiries on having him speak to your group, contact David at David@DavidWoodSpeaking.com. His website address is www.DavidWoodSpeaking.com.
