LSU and South Carolina tied for the lead at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate
Megan Schofill (Auburn Athletics photo)
LSU, South Carolina and Auburn's Megan Schofill made the most of stingy conditions at Long Cove Golf Club on Monday to grab first-round leads in the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate.
After rounds of 1-under 283, LSU and South Carolina were the only two teams in red numbers following the conclusion of first-round play, while Schofill crafted a 5-under round 67 to take the individual lead in a field that includes eight of the top-20 female amateurs in the world are in the field.
Hot on Schofill's heels is LSU senior Ingrid Lindblad, who is just one back of the leader after posting a 3-under par 68 in the opening round.
LSU freshman Edit Hertzman found herself at 3-over over her first five holes but fought back with five birdies en route to 2-under par 69, which gives her a share of third place with Mathilde Claisse of South Carolina and Rosie Belsham of Baylor.
Junior Carla Tejedo's 1-over 72 and senior Latanna Stone's 3-over 74 rounded out LSU's scoring.
In addition to Claisse's 2-under 69, the host Gamecocks also benefitted from a 1-under 70 from freshman Mia Sandtorv Lussand while All-Americans Louise Rydqvist (71) and Hannah Darling (73) accounted for the final counting scores.
Schofill, ranked 17th in the world by Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com, made five birdies over her first nine holes to go out in 30, picked up another birdie on her 15th hole to move to 6-under and withstood bogeys on two of her final three holes for a round of 67.
"In my front nine, I made a lot of putts and hit the ball really well to get off to a hot start," Schofill said. "I struggled a little bit the last few holes and just managed to make pars. I felt like I hit it in the right places today on this golf course."
Starting her round on Long Cove's back nine, Belsham turned in a bogey-free 69, picking up birdies on holes Nos. 14 and 15. The Baylor junior finished with 12 straight pars to gain a share of third place.
Only eight golfers managed to break par on the first day on the 6,220-yard Long Cove layout.
Second-ranked Wake Forest is eight back and tied for third after the Demon Deacons carded a 7-over 291. No. 3 Oregon finds itself tied for seventh with Texas at 11-over 295.
The Darius Rucker Intercollegiate continues on Tuesday and Wednesday from Long Cove Club in Hilton Head, S.C. GOLF Channel will provide live coverage each day beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET.
ABOUT THE Darius Rucker Intercollegiate
54-hole collegiate invitational hosted by the
University of South Carolina women's team. Team
(best
four scores out of five players each day) and
individual
competitions.
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