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LSU Golf History

The LSU Tigers golf team represents the Louisiana State University in the sport of golf. The Tigers compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They play their home matches on the University Club of Baton Rouge in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.. The LSU Tigers golf program has won five NCAA national tournament championships and sixteen SEC championships.

NCAA Champions

1940 | 1942 | 1947 | 1955 | 2015


NCAA Individual Champions

  • Fred Haas (1937)
  • Earl Stewart (1941)
  • John Peterson (2011)
  • Austin Ernst (2011)


Team Honors

The LSU Tigers golf program begun competition in 1932. The Tigers have won five NCAA tournament national championships in 1940 (co-champion with Princeton), 1942 (co-champion with Stanford), 1947, 1955 and 2015.

The Tigers have won sixteen SEC conference championships in 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1942, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1953, 1954, 1960, 1966, 1967, 1986, 1987 and 2015.


Individual Honors

Three LSU Tigers have won four NCAA individual national championships. They are Fred Haas (1937), Earl Stewart (1941), John Peterson (2011), and Austin Ernst (2011).

Thirteen LSU Tigers have won eighteen SEC individual titles. They are Fred Haas (1937), Henry Castillo (1939, 39, 40), Earl Stewart (1941), Joe Moore (1947), Eddie Merrins (1953, 54), Don Essig (1960), Howard Fraser (1961), B.R. McLendon (1965, 66, 67), Vaughn Moise (1969), Wayne DeFrancesco (1979), John Salamon (1981), Emlyn Aubrey (1984) and David Toms (1987)


Notable Players

  • Jenny Lidback, Winner of LPGA Major Championship - Du Maurier Classic
  • Meredith Duncan, 2x US Western Amateur Winner, US North & South Women's Amateur Winner
  • Austin Ernst, NCAA Champion, North & South Women's Amateur Winner
  • Madelene Sagstrom, 1 LPGA Tour Win, Swedish Golfer of the Year
  • Brian Bateman, 1 career PGA tour victory
  • Gardner Dickinson, 7 career PGA tour victories
  • Fred Haas, 5 career PGA tour victories
  • Jay Hebert, winner of 1960 PGA Championship, 7 career PGA tour victories
  • Smylie Kaufman, 1 career PGA tour victory
  • John Peterson, NCAA Champion, 1 Tour Win
  • Mac McLendon, 4 career PGA tour victories
  • Johnny Pott, 5 career PGA tour victories
  • Earl Stewart, 3 career PGA tour victories
  • David Toms, winner of 2001 PGA Championship, 2018 U.S. Senior Open, 13 career PGA tour victories
2015 National Champions

The Tigers not only made history by winning their fifth national championship on the links in school history, but they also tied a team record with five wins in a season as they matched their single-season mark with five wins that was previously set during the 1959-60 season. The 2015 SEC Champions and NCAA Champions also took home the title from the Golfweek Conference Challenge (Sept. 14-16), David Toms Intercollegiate (Oct. 4-5) and Talis Park Challenge (March 15-16) during the 2014-15 campaign.

LSU Golfer John Peterson

"This is an unbelievable feeling. I can’t really describe it. It hasn’t sunk in for me yet I’m probably most excited about getting to walk out to the 50-yard line in Tiger Stadium one night next year at a football game."

Senior All-American John Peterson wrapped up a heralded collegiate career with a national championship after firing a 54-hole score of 5-under par 211 at Karsten Creek Golf Club.

LSU Golfer Austin Ernst

"It still hasn't hit me that I won or the magnitude of it and what it means"

Freshman Austin Ernst became the first LSU women's golfer in the 32-year history of the program to win the NCAA Division I National Championship, firing a final round of 6-under 66 to win the championship by three shots at The Traditions Club.