March 15, 2007
Coach Martha Richards and her Commodores return to the LSU/Cleveland Golf Classic in Baton Rouge, La. this weekend armed with the tournament’s two most recent individual champions, sophomore Jacqui Concolino and senior Chris Brady.
Concolino shot a 6-under-par to take the individual championship last year, while Brady won in 2005. The two golfers hold the two best overall scores for the tournament since it moved to the University Club Golf Course in 2000: Concolino carded a 210 in 2006, and Brady a 211 in 2005. The Commodores finished the tournament third overall last year.
Good weather is expected for this year’s three-day tournament, with highs in the upper 60s Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Although precipitation is not in this weekend’s forecast, the region received several inches of rain yesterday.
“The course is wet right now, and we’re not getting any roll,” Richards said following Thursday’s practice round. “It’s playing long, but it plays the same for everybody. As it dries out a little bit, it will play closer to its true yardage.”
The ‘Dores enter the LSU/Cleveland classic following a strong performance by Amber Lundskog last week at the Belmont Invitational in Old Hickory, Tenn. The sophomore was the lone Commodore to compete in the event, and finished second overall with a 2-over-par performance. Two weeks prior, the ‘Dores finished third overall behind Duke and the University of Georgia at the UCF Invitational at Grand Cypress Golf Course in Orlando, Fla. Concolino finished second overall carding a 1-over-par to finish behind Duke’s Amanda Blumenherst. Vanderbilt’s Kristen Svicarovich and Liebelei Lawrence finished ninth and 10th respectively.
“This tournament is going to be a great test for us because there are a lot of really great teams here,” Richards said.
Sixteen of the tournament’s 21 teams are ranked in the Top 50, including No. 2 Duke, No. 5 Auburn, and No. 9 Tennessee. Vanderbilt is ranked No. 7.
Following the LSU/Cleveland Classic, the Commodores travel to Tempe, Ariz., for the Ping/ASU Invitational March 30-April 1.