Áine Donegan went on a final day charge to help LSU win the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate title and lift the Guitar Trophy for the second time in three years.
Donegan carded a final round of 70 to climb to level-par for the tournament and finish in a share of third place, one shot behind joint winners Kendall Todd and Louise Rydqvist at Long Cove Club.
It was enough to see LSU finish level with South Carolina at the top of the team leaderboard, but thanks to a count back it was the Tigers who were crowned the official winners on a score of eleven-over with a combined two-over final round.
It’s the first team title of the season for LSU and it could have been a sweet, sweet double and a maiden individual title for Donegan.
The Lahinch star was tied for the lead after she birdied the 17th to get into red figures for the week but she bogeyed the last to slip out of the share at the top.
Teeing off three shots behind Todd, Donegan got off to a slow start when a birdie on the 2nd was followed by back to back bogeys on the third and fourth holes.
The two-time US Women’s Open competitor caught fire from there in front of the Golf Channel cameras and rolled in birdies on the 6th, 10th and 17th to get herself within touching distance of a win.
Unfortunately, she would run out of steam at the final hurdle but it was her performance that was key to LSU clinching victory overall.
“What was most impressive about their game today was that they shot under par out here. That was impressive,” said Coach Runion. “I mean, the beginning was some rain, wind and I was just very, very impressed that they kept the competitive toughness, fought to the very end and were able to finish the round for us.”
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