March 30, 2008
Brown Summit, N.C. - Freshman Cydney Clanton and the No. 10 Auburn women's golf team finished third at the Bryan National Collegiate on Sunday. Despite competing in chilly conditions and with a slight drizzle, it was the highest finish for Clanton and the team this spring.
The Tigers entered the final day in third and remained at the position despite shooting a 17-over 305. Auburn (301-303-305--909) finished a mere three strokes off the winner, Florida (298-301-307--906) and one stroke from second place Duke (294-304-310). The Blue Devils led for most of the tournament but was edged out by Florida by two strokes.
Arkansas (913), Furman (915), Michigan State (919), Wake Forest (919), Virginia (919), North Carolina (930) and N.C. State (934) rounded out the top 10.
For the fourth time this season Clanton found herself in the top five in the individual race. Clanton fired a 2-over 74 to finish tied for third. It was her best finish of the spring and best since tying for second at the UA Ann Rhoads Intercollegiate in October. Clanton was even through the front nine after carding birdies on two and six, but back-to-back bogeys on 11 and 12 and even par from there on out put her at 2-over on the day. Clanton finished with a three-round score of 75-72-74--221.
Senior Margaret Shirley turned in her best finish in more than a year as she tied for 10th. It was her first top 10 finish of the season and first since tying for sixth at the Liz Murphey Classic last season. Shirley shot back-to-back 2-over 74's, but fired a 4-over 78 today after committing four bogeys and a double.
Sophomore Candace Schepperle improved her position 20 places and finished tied for 21st. She shot a tournament best 3-over 75 to finish with a three-round score of 78-77-75--230. Junior Mariana Macias also made strides and improved 10 places to tied for 37th (76-80-78--234). Freshman Sarah Thead ended up 55th (76-83-79--238).
Arkansas' Stacy Lewis was able to hang on for the individual title (70-69-77--216). Duke's Amanda Blumenherst finished one stroke behind Lewis (70-73-74--217), while College of Charleston Steffi Kirchmayr tied with Clanton for third. There was a three-way tie for fifth with Nannette Hill (WFU), Jessica Yadloczky (Florida) and Sydney Crane (North Carolina).
Auburn will have two weeks off from competition before heading to Louden, Tenn., for the SEC Championships on April 18-20.