UVa Uses Record-Setting Effort to Win LSU Classic
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Baton Rouge, LA The No. 4 Virginia women’s golf team won the second tournament championship in the program’s history in record-setting fashion Sunday. The Cavaliers took first place at the LSU Golf Classic by five shots, turning in the best tournament score in school history. During the final round, Virginia shot 4-under 284, equaling the lowest single-round score in team history, to set an all-time low tournament scoring mark of 8-under 856. UVa’s previous best tournament score was 8-over 872 at last year’s ACC Championships.
“We’ve worked very hard this winter and the girls were very anxious to get the spring season underway,” said second-year coach Kim Lewellen. “We came into the tournament as the highest ranked team and I think that pushed everyone to play well. They really wanted to take home the trophy. Today, they came to the course with the attitude that they wanted to win and do so in convincing fashion. They did not hold anything back. It was a very exciting couple of days for us.”
Tulane, which shot 10-under 276 during the final round, was second at 861. Its final-round score was the best 18-hole team total in the tournament’s history. No. 11 LSU was third at 867. The 18-team field included 15 schools ranked in the top-50 of the current Golfweek standings.
Virginia sophomore Calle Nielson tied for first-place overall, but lost the medalist title in a three-way playoff that was claimed by Arkansas’ Lucy Nunn on the second hole of extra play. Nielson finished with a score of 7-under 209, the second lowest 54-hole total for a Cavalier.
“I’m very excited for Calle,” Lewellen said. “She played great golf all weekend. To see her finish first as just a sophomore, that’s tremendous for her development and enhances her reputation as one of the top underclassmen in the country. She’s a real fighter and did a great job for us this weekend.”
Whitney Neuhauser posted her third top-five finish in six tournaments this year by placing fifth overall at 3-under 211. After shooting 74 Friday to open play, she responded by tying the school single-round scoring record (67) on Saturday and shooting 2-under 70 during Sunday’s play.
Jennie Arseneault finished 16th for UVa at 217, Lene Krog moved up to 25th overall at 219 and Joy Kim was 76th at 230. Kristen Simpson, playing as a non-scoring individual, shot her best round as a collegiate, posting a 68 Sunday to move up to 43rd at 222, which was the lowest tournament score during her career.
Simpson was not the only Cavalier posting personal best numbers during the tournament. Virginia’s top four finishers all set or equaled career scoring marks during the tournament. Nielson set single round (67) and tournament marks (209), Neuhauser posted a new low single round (67) and Krog equaled her low 18-hole score (70). Arseneault’s 217 tied her best tourney score.
Virginia’s final score proved to be the best in the history of the tournament and was the third lowest 54-hole total in the 10-year history of events being held at LSU’s University Club. Duke set the course record with its 844 during the 2007 NCAA East Regional. That same season UCLA shot 846 at the event.
The Cavaliers return to action March 27-29 at Georgia’s Liz Murphey Collegiate.
LSU Golf Classic
University Club
Baton Rouge, LA
Par-72, 6,424 yards
Final Results
Team Results
1. Virginia 285-287-284-856
2. Tulane 289-294-278-861
3. LSU 287-297-283-867
4. Arkansas 298-284-287-869
5. Wake Forest 284-296-290-870
5. North Carolina 287-296-290-870
5. Louisville 296-294-280-870
8. TCU 290-301-289-880
8. Kentucky 293-299-288-880
10. Colorado 296-301-287-884
10. South Carolina 292-305-287-884
12. Notre Dame 296-301-288-885
13. Furman 293-305-292-890
14. NC State 304-298-290-892
15. UNC Wilmington 290-308-296-894
16. Mississippi 300-303-293-896
17. Col. Of Charleston 300-307-293-900
18. Mississippi State 308-304-306-918
Individual Leaders
1. Calle Nielson, Virginia 67-71-71-209
1. Lucy Nunn, Arkansas^ 72-68-69-209
1. Benedicte Toumpsin, S. Carolina 70-71-68-209
4. Nannette Hill, Wake Fores 72-70-68-210
5. Daniela Holmqvist, Tulane 70-74-67-211
5. Whitney Neuhauser, Virginia 74-67-70-211
7. Jaqueline Hedwall, LSU 68-74-70-212
7. Allie White, North Carolina 68-72-72-212
9. Cindy LaCrosse, Louisville 71-72-70-213
10. Alyssa Randolph, Kentucky 72-74-68-214
^ Won two-hole playoff for medalist
Virginia Results
1. Calle Nielson 67-71-71-209
5. Whitney Neuhauser 74-67-70-211
16. Jennie Arseneault 71-73-73-217
25. Lene Krog 73-76-70-219
76. Joy Kim 77-80-73-230
43. Kristen Simpson* 77-77-68-222
* Non-scoring individual