March 11, 2008
Orlando, Fla. - The No. 9 Auburn women's golf team finished eighth at the UCF Challenge, shooting 5-over 293 in the final round of play Tuesday from the RedTail Country Club.
Cydney Clanton ended up as Auburn's top finisher as she tied for 10th. Clanton shot 2-over 74 today and finished at 2-under 214 for the tournament. She was at 4-over 76 through 12 holes, but had two birdies on the last six to put her at 74.
Auburn's top competitor Tuesday was Abigale Schepperle, who fired a 1-under 71. She improved 27 places from Monday and finished tied for 27th (76-72-71--219). A. Schepperle and three birdies on the day.
Candace Schepperle fell 19 places after shooting 5-over 77 and was 7-over 223 for the tournament. She ended up tied for 47th. C. Schepperle was even through the back nine, but had five bogeys on the front nine.
Mariana Macias and Margaret Shirley both tied for 52nd after shooting 8-over 224. Macias had a strong back nine to open the day and was a 2-under 70, but four bogeys and a double on the front nine were the difference. Shirley was even through the back nine but had two bogeys on the front. She finished with a birdie on 9.
No. 1 Duke took the overall honors for the second straight year. The Blue Devils shot 1-under 287 today and 13-under 851 for the tournament. No. 8 Purdue was nine strokes off the top spot, shooting 4-under 288. No. 2 UCLA took third, firing 1-under 863. No. 5 Florida finished fourth, No. 3 Southern California fifth and Georgia and Alabama tied for sixth.
Duke's Alison Whitaker never relinquished her lead, winning by two strokes over Purdue's Junthima Gulyanamitta. Whitaker shot 8-under 208 for the tournament. Duke's Amanda Blumenherst and Georgia's Garrett Phillips tied for third at 5-under 211.
Auburn returns to the links on March 21-23 at the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic in Athens, Ga. The three-day event will be held at the par 72, 6,014-yard UGA Golf Course.