FSU holds off rally by LSU women's golf

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.