LSU's Lindblad makes history at the Clemson Invitational

27 Mar 2022
by Jim Young of AmateurGolf.com
see also: View results for Clemson Women's Invitational, Reserve Club at Lake Keowee, Ingrid Lindblad Rankings
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Courtesy of LSU Athletics

You kind of get the feeling Ingrid Lindblad can't wait for the Augusta National Women's Amateur which gets underway Wednesday in Geogia.

The LSU junior heads into the ANWA with a head of steam after she picked up her second consecutive individual title and fourth this season on Sunday to lead the Tigers to the championship of the Clemson Invitational, which was held at The Reserve at Lake Keowee in Sunset, SC.

It also marked Lindblad's eighth collegiate victory, which moves her to the top of LSU's all-time career list.

The Reserve at Lake Keowee proved to be a difficult test for the 17-team field, as LSU claimed the team title with a 27-over score of 291 to eke out a one-stroke victory over Illinois. It was Lindblad's birdie on the par-5 17th hole that proved to be the difference in the Tiger's first stroke-play victory of the season. The Tigers earned the top-seed at The Stephens Cup in the fall and then went on to defeat South Carolina for the championship in a match play format.

After carding rounds of 74-70, Lindblad found herself tied for third heading into Sunday's final round, but just one-stroke back of co-leaders Annabell Fuller of Florida and Brooke Biermann of Michigan State. She opened her final round with a pair of birdies and added two more on holes nine and 17 for a bogey-free round of 68 to earn a five-stroke win over Fuller.

LSU Tigers win the Clemson Invitational

“Obviously, this was a very good week for us,” said LSU head coach Garrett Runion. “Things started a little unsure with Carla (Tejada Mulet) coming down with an illness. We had to fly Presley Baggett up at the last minute and she did not get to play a practice round. But she did a good job going right in there. She had seen the course previously, but there were new greens and they got rid of 56 bunkers so it was actually a new course for everyone.

The Tigers entered the final round in fourth place, six shots back of 36-hole leader Kentucky. Michigan State was two back while Florida sat in third place, three shots ahead of LSU. However, it was Illinois who made a Sunday charge with a 2-over round of 290 and enjoyed the clubhouse lead at 28-over.

Late birdies by Jessica Bailey on 17 and Lindblad's clincher on 18 lifted the Tigers to the title.

“It was a nice win,” Runion said. “Everyone contributed during the course of the tournament. The birdies by Ingrid on 17 and Jessica (Bailey) on 18 were very important. The last three holes were into the wind and played very tough.”

Junior Latanna Stone joined Lindblad in the top-10, tying for seventh with a 6-over 222 (74-73-75).

On Monday, Stone and Lindblad will be heading to Augusta, Ga. for the Augusta National Women’s Amateur which begins on Wednesday. It will be Lindblad’s second appearance and Stone's first in the event. Lindblad tied for third last year.

LSU Athletic Communications contributed to this report.