The LSU women’s golf team finally gets to unveil its new digs this weekend to the collegiate golf world during the LSU Tiger Golf Classic.
The No. 5 Lady Tigers host one of the year’s strongest fields at the newly renovated University Club, as 21 of the nation’s top 50 teams will tackle the challenging new home layout.
The U-Club went through an extensive year-long renovation that included lengthening the course, adding more ridges to the greens and bringing more water hazards into play before reopening last September.
Early reviews from opposing players and coaches have been positive, said LSU head coach Karen Bahnsen.
“I’ve had a lot of coaches already come up to me during the practice rounds with a lot of compliments on the new layout,” Bahnsen said. “They’re telling me it’s very difficult, but their players like that.”
Bahnsen emphatically stated that the firm, undulating greens are the new design’s most challenging features.
“The greens are much more undulating now than [before the renovation], and they’re still new, meaning they’re playing firm, fast and very tough,” Bahnsen said
Despite recent heavy rains, Bahnsen said the course is in great condition.
“We just had about 6 inches of rain on the golf course in the last week, but the course has drained really well, and it’s ready to go,” Bahnsen said.
Top-ranked senior Megan McChrystal, who finished in the top five in her last two starts, has shot the only under-par round on the new layout, according to Bahnsen, and is one of the favorites to capture the individual title this weekend.
Freshman Austin Ernst, who won the individual title at the Central District Invitational in February but struggled at last week’s Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate tournament, will look to use home-course advantage to get her game back on track.
This weekend’s tournament is the first of many major events the course will host in coming years, as the University Club has already been selected to host a 2013 NCAA women’s golf regional.
“We’re excited to finally show off this course and host a tournament at our true home site again,” Bahnsen said.
The LSU Tiger Golf Classic is a 54-hole, three-day tournament and gets underway today at 8:00 a.m.