If there was an NCAA bubble now that the field has been set, the LSU women’s golf team would be right on it.
The Tigers tee it up Monday in Waco, Texas, in the first round of the NCAA regional there at Ridgewood Country Club. LSU is the No. 6 seed in the 12-team regional, with the top five teams advancing to the NCAA Championships after the conclusion of 54 holes on Wednesday.
The Tigers have made a program record five straight NCAA championship appearances. Though LSU has had an up and down season, ranked 36th nationally entering the regional, LSU coach Garrett Runion is confident in his Tigers’ ability to extend their streak.
“It’s taken a little bit longer for this team to click and get in a groove, but they’re certainly talented,” Runion said. “They’re motivated. They want to do well.”
Part of that motivation comes from wanting to send senior Taylor Riley, daughter of former LSU golfer Michelle Louviere and former PGA Touring pro Chris Riley, home to the San Diego area for the NCAA Championships. That tournament will be played at the Omni La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, California.
Riley will be one of seven golfers LSU is taking to Waco, with five players competing each day counting the low four scores. The lineup will be the same as what LSU took to the Southeastern Conference Championships, with seniors Riley and Elsa Svensson, sophomores Franesca Fiorellini and Rocio Tejedo and SEC All-Freshman team member Ryleigh Knaub. Knaub leads the Tigers with a 72.17 season stroke average, while Tejedo played last month in the prestigious Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
Svensson, Fiorellini and Knaub are ranked among the NCAA’s top 100 individual players at Nos. 63, 70 and 93, respectively. Senior Edit Hertzman and sophomore Josefin Widal will travel as alternates.
Texas A&M is the regional’s top seed, with SEC champion Tennessee No. 3 and host Baylor No. 5. SWAC champion Prairie View is the No. 12 seed.
Live scoring is available at www.scoreboard.clippd.com. The website www.BabygrandeGolf.com will stream action from all six NCAA regionals on a pay-per-view basis.
