The No. 1-ranked LSU women’s golf team was unable to defend its new ranking despite a near-championship effort from one team member at the Tar Heel Invitational at UNC Finley Golf Course in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Senior Megan McChrystal fired a school-record 11-under par 205 to force a playoff with Alabama’s Brooke Pancake, but a water hazard on the second playoff hole left McChrystal as the runner-up, while the Lady Tigers also settled for a second place finish in the team standings.
Both players scored par on the first playoff hole, but Pancake secured the individual title with a par on the second hole after McChrystal bogeyed the hole after hitting her approach into the water.
Fueled by McChrystal’s bogey-free 6-under 66, LSU rallied with a team score of 10-under par 278 during the final round to finish the tournament at 16-under par 848.
But the Lady Tigers still finished 12 strokes behind tournament champion and No.3-ranked Alabama, who surged to the top of the leader board with a first round score of 11-under 277 and never relinquished the lead.    
“The girls have shown so much heart and determination in these first three tournaments,” said LSU women’s golf coach Karen Bahnsen. “Their first two tournaments were so tight, and there was so much effort expended.”
Four out of five Lady Tigers finished in the top 30 among the individual leader board, while only three golfers finished even par or better.
“We didn’t always have our ‘A’ game this weekend, but the girls really responded [Sunday] and I am so proud of them,” said Bahnsen.
Joining McChrystal in the top 10 was freshman Austin Ernst, who finished tied for 10th place with a tournament score of 5-under par 211 in her first collegiate appearance. Ernst rallied from 18th place during the third day of the tournament with a final round of 4-under par 68.
Junior Tessa Teachman finished tied for 24th place following a tournament score of even-par 216, while sophomore Mary Michael Maggio tied for 30th place with a 2-over par 218.
LSU began the Tar Heel Invitational with consecutive team scores of 3-under par 285 during the first two days of the tournament. The Lady Tigers have yet to post a round over par this season, shooting nine consecutive rounds of par or better.
The Lady Tigers will return to action Nov. 5 for the SEC-Pac-10 Challenge at Stanford Golf Course in Palo Alto, Calif.
____
Contact Cory Boudreaux at [email protected]