April 18, 2008
Louden, Tenn. - The No. 9-ranked Auburn women's golf team began play at the SEC Championship on Friday at the par 72, 6,293-yard Tennessee National Golf Club in Louden, Tenn. The Tigers shot 22-over 310 and are tied with No. 21 LSU for eighth.
Sophomore Candace Schepperle and senior Margaret Shirley had strong performances in the opening round as each shot 2-over 74 and are in a four-way tie for 10th. Schepperle was 2-over after the back nine and gained momentum after a birdie on three. A bogey on six put her back a 2-over for the day.
"We are still trying to get this season going," head coach Kim Evans said. "Candace and Margaret had great rounds today. This is a demanding golf course mentally. We have to readjust some thoughts and game management and be mentall ready to play some Auburn golf tomorrow."
Shirley looked good on the back nine and was even at 72. Shirley made up for bogeys on 10 and 13 with birdies on 14 and 15. Shirley moved to 2-over after consecutive bogeys on four and five, but pulled back to 1-over after a birdie on eight. She finished with another bogey on nine to end at 2-over.
Playing in her final SEC Championship of her collegiate career, senior Abigale Schepperle shot 9-over 81 and is tied for 45th. After completing the back nine, Schepperle was at 3-over 75, but four bogeys and a double on the front nine were costly.
In a tie for 45th with Schepperle is freshman Cydney Clanton. Clanton, who has only shot in the 80-range once this season, fired a 9-over 81 today. She had six bogeys or worse on the back nine and found herself 6-over heading into the front. Three more bogeys on five, six and seven and no birdies to overcome the difference left her at 9-over.
Competing in her first post-season tournament, junior Mariana Macias fired an 11-over 83. Macias had a strong back nine and found herself 1-over 73 after tallying just one bogey on 15. She did not fare as well on the front nine as she had a bogey or worse on eight of the nine holes. Macias is tied for 48th.
No. 12 Arkansas and No. 5 Florida are currently tied for first after shooting 9-over 297. No. 7 Georgia and No. 37 South Carolina are tied for third and are three strokes off the top spot (300). No. 10 Alabama is fifth (307), followed by Vanderbilt (308), Mississippi (309), No. 21 LSU (310), No. 9 Auburn (310), No. 17 Tennessee (316), Mississippi State (319) and Kentucky (326).
Lady Razorback Stacy Lewis is in the top spot after shooting 3-under 69. She is followed by Georgia's Krystie Caithness and Mississippi's Dori Carter in a tie for second at 1-under 71. Florida's Tiffany Churdy and South Carolina's Benedicte Toumpsin are tied for fourth at even 72.
Second round action begins Saturday at 9 a.m. Live stats can be found on www.golfstat.com.