Golf tournaments can’t be won on the first day, but they can be lost.
The No. 8 LSU women’s golf team avoided that fate, finishing round one Thursday of the NCAA Central Region in second place with a 7-over-par 295 at the Warren Golf Course in South Bend, Ind.
LSU teed off in the early round and was bettered only by No. 1 UCLA, who shot 3-over to pace the field.
“It’s a really hard golf course, and they fought all the way to the end,” said LSU coach Karen Bahnsen. “I was really proud of they way they fought all the way down the line.”
Senior Megan McChrystal struggled early, finishing her first four holes at 4-over, but rallied late with an eagle and a birdie on her final two holes to post an even-par 72.
Fellow senior Amalie Valle equaled her classmate with a 72 of her own in round one that included a pair of birdies and a pair of bogies.
In her first career regional action, freshman Austin Ernst made the turn at 1-under, but shot a 3-over 39 on the back nine to finish the round at 2-over.
“Austin is such a competitor,” Bahnsen said. “She handled her first regional action really well. She’s got a great Tiger attitude.”
Junior Jacqueline Hedwall’s 77 rounded out the Lady Tigers day-one score, while junior Tessa Teachman carded nine bogies and a double bogey on day one en route to a disappointing 81.
Individually, McChrystal and Valle are in a tie for fourth place as three golfers shot 1-under par on day one to lead the way.
The top eight teams in the 24-team field advance to the NCAA championship in College Station, Texas.
Round two of the three-round event begins this morning. LSU plays in the afternoon session.
 
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Contact Hunt Palmer at [email protected]