Defending champion Benton leads by 12 strokes after the first day of the Division I girls tournament Monday at Les Vieux Chenes Golf Club in Youngsville.
Grace Goodwin and Abigail McWilliams shot a 6-under par 142 on the 5,679-yard, par-74 course. Barbe is in second at 154.
Goodwin shot a 5-under 69 and leads the individual medalist competition by one stroke over Maci Williams of Brusly. McWilliams shot a 73 and is in third.
Goodwin started with four straight pars. She followed that with birdies on the par-4 5th hole, the par-4 sixth and the par-3 seventh. After making a double-bogey seven on No. 8 she recovered with a birdie of the par-4 ninth, making the turn at minus-2.
Goodwin parred the first three holes on the back nine then closed with birdies on three of the final six holes, including the par-5 18th.
McWilliams birdied Nos. 4 and 6. She made the turn at 1 under after a bogey on No. 9. After bogeying No. 11 and No. 12, McWiiams finished strong with four straight pars followed by birdies on No. 17 and 18.
Benton’s Kade Bryant, fresh off helping the Tigers baseball team reach the non-select Division I semifinals, is the only player from a parish school in the Division I boys tournament.
He shot an even-par 72 on the 6,348-yard The Wetlands course in Lafayette and is in a four-way tie for 14th. Jesuit’s Duke Nitcher shot a 64 and has a two-stroke lead.
Bryant had four pars, two birdies and three bogeys on the front nine. He parred the first four holes on the back nine then birdied the next three. After making a double bogey on No. 17, he closed with a par on No. 18.
Byrd and Catholic of Baton Rouge are tied for first in the team competition at 3-under 285. Jesuit is one stroke back.
Because of the possibility of inclement weather in the Acadiana area Tuesday and Wednesday, Tuesday’s schedule in all of the boys and girls tournaments has been altered, according to an LHSAA press release.
“Tuesday’s play in all six divisions and at all four courses will be in a shotgun format in an attempt to play at least 27 holes to determine the championships. If possible, a second nine holes will be played on Tuesday, also in a shotgun format, to finish the 36-hole championship,” the release stated.