Freshman Messana Leads Clemson in New Orleans

Clemson, S.C.—Freshman Marisa Messana shot an even-par 72 on Sunday to lead the Clemson golf team at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Invitation in New Orleans.  Clemson stands in 14^th place in the 15-team event after the first of three rounds at English Turn Golf Club.

The tournament is annually one of the top women’s college tournaments of the spring season.  This year’s field includes seven top 25 teams and all 15 teams in the field played in the NCAA Tournament last year.

LSU is in first place after the first round with a four-under par score of 284.  Host school Tulane is second at three-over-par 291 and UCLA, the highest ranked team in the field, is third at four over par 292.  Clemson is 14^th with a 311 team score.

Messana,  ranked fourth on the Clemson team in stroke average for the year, had her second round of par or better for the year in shooting the even par 72 that included  five birdies.  She shot a two-under-par 34 on the back nine and stands in a tie for ninth place in the 80-player field after one round.

Jessica Hoang, who has a 76.4 stroke average for the year, shot a 77 in the first round and stands in a tie for 44^th place.  McKenzie Talbert was Clemson’s third best player with an 80 on the first day, while Taylor Ramsey, playing in her first career tournament as a member of the Clemson lineup, had an 82.  Lauren Salazar, who has the team’s top stroke average so far this year at 74.5, was Clemson’s non counter in the first round with an 84.

For the second straight tournament, Clemson is without returning All-ACC golfer Sloan Shanahan, who is out with an injury.