Cats Record Their Best Round of the Weekend in LSU Classic Finale

BATON ROUGE, La. – The Kentucky women’s golf team closed out the LSU Tiger Golf Classic on Sunday with their best score of the tournament in the final round. 

The Wildcats fired a 304 (16-over par) in the third round, finishing the tournament in 13th place with a total score of 920 (56-over par). Sunday’s round followed a 36-hole marathon Friday because of thunderstorms on Saturday. 

Duke, the defending tournament champions, finished the tournament in first place with a total score of 854 (10-under par). Duke is the 11th-ranked team in the nation and home to the No. 2 player in the country and individual leader of the tournament, Leona Maquire, who finished the weekend with a 206 (10-under par).

The highlight of the final round for the Wildcats was Sarah Shipley. The freshman recorded UK’s best score of the weekend with an impressive score of even-par 72. 

Shipley scored 12 consecutive pars Sunday, closing out her round with a birdie on hole No. 14. It’s her fourth even- or under-par round of the season and first since the first round of the UCF Challenge in early February.

Leading the Wildcats throughout the tournament was the always-dependable Isabelle Johansson. The junior finished the day with a 77 (5-over par) in round three. She tallied nine birdies for the weekend and completed the tournament tied for 29th at just 8-over par overall.

Junior Grace was even par through her first eight holes Sunday but dropped back in the field in the final holes of round three with a score of 80 (8-over par). It was Rose’s first round of the spring where she failed to shoot 76 or better.

Freshman Josephine Chang secured three birdies in round three, recording her best round of the weekend with a 3-over-par 75. Sophomore Claire Carlin shot an 81 (9-over par). Chang tied for 66th overall and Carlin tied for 76th.

The Wildcats will take a two-week break before returning to action at the PING ASU Invitational, April 7-9. The team is coming off two tournaments in two weeks. The PING ASU Invitational will be UK’s last tune-up before the Southeastern Conference Championship.

This week’s 15-team field included eight ranked in Golfstat’s top 50 and two in the top 20. Kentucky came into the tournament ranked No. 50 in Golfstat’s rankings – decent position as the Wildcats try to make an NCAA regional appearance for the sixth time in seven seasons under Borst.

This weekend’s tournament was being held at LSU’s University Club and is always one of the gems of the spring schedule. Playing at 6,250 yards and a par 72, the course was completely redesigned and renovated in 2010 under the guidance of PGA Tour pro David Toms and renowned golf course architect Jim Lipe, the course is carved into nearly 300 acres of land.

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