Difficult scoring conditions greeted both LSU golf teams Monday in the second round of their respective 54-hole tournaments.
For the No. 7 Tigers, the second round of the John Hayt Invitational at Sawgrass Country Club was a volatile affair that ended with the team in a tie for second with a two-day total of 8-over par.
Senior All-American John Peterson struggled to a second-round 78 after a back-nine stretch where he dropped from 4-under to 1-over in three holes. Peterson began the day with the lead after a 5-under 67 in Sunday’s first round, but fell to a tie for 12th.
On a tough scoring day at Sawgrass, the other Tigers picked up the slack and kept the team within four shots of the lead.
Fellow senior Andrew Loupe followed a first-round 74 with a solid even-par 72 on Monday.
Senior Ken Looper remained in contention and tied for 12th after a second-round 75 left him at 1-over through 36 holes.
LSU men’s coach Chuck Winstead declined to comment on the tournament until after its completion.
The women’s squad, competing in the Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate tournament at English Turn Golf Course in New Orleans, finished Monday’s second round in a tie for ninth after high scores on the back nine led to a rapid fall down the leaderboard.
Top-ranked senior Megan McChrystal turned in another impressive round, posting a 70 for a two-round total of 5-under. McChrystal is just one shot behind the leader, Alabama’s Stephanie Meadow.
On another warm and windy day, the rest of the Lady Tigers struggled on English Turn’s challenging layout.
LSU women’s coach Karen Bahnsen said the Lady Tigers’ mistakes could have been dodged.
“It was frustrating because we didn’t putt well and there were some big numbers that we should have avoided,” Bahnsen said.
Freshman Austin Ernst rebounded from an opening-round 80 with a 74 despite a flurry of late bogies, and junior Jacqueline Hedwall followed her brilliant first-round 69 with a shaky round of 80 Monday.
Despite the Lady Tigers’ ninth-place standing, Bahnsen believes a final-round charge is possible with only 11 shots to make up.
“I feel like, with our experience, we’re a team that’s capable of coming back with a great round tomorrow and playing our way back into this [tournament].”
 
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Contact Chris Abshire at [email protected]