Sept. 26, 2008
FRANKLIN, Tenn. - The No. 8 Auburn's women's golf team opened with a first round 10-over-298 and is in three-way tie for ninth place at the Mason Rudolph Championship at the Vanderbilt Legends Golf Course in Franklin, Tenn. Candace Schepperle is tied for first on the individual leader board after firing a 5-under-67.
"Candace really had another great day and continues to lead the team," head coach Kim Evans said. "I was proud of Cydney's steady play after her double bogy start. We look to continue to improve as the weekend continues."
Sixth-ranked Oklahoma State put together a 2-under-286 to close out the day holding down the top spot. No. 3 UCLA is a stroke back at 1-under-287. The nation's top-ranked squad, Southern California, is even after the first round and is third. No. 2 Arizona State (289), Vanderbilt (291), No. 5 Duke (292), No. 15 Florida (292), No. 17 Arizona (297), No. 7 Alabama (298) and No. 18 Arkansas (298) finished the first round as the top 10 squads.
No. 10 Wake Forest (300) is 12th, followed by No. 12 Purdue (302), Tennessee (307), UT-Chattanooga (308), Central Florida (309) and No. 19 Stanford (313).
Schepperle led the way for Auburn with a 5-under-67. The junior opened the front nine with three birdies and added four more on the back nine. Schepperle is tied with Duke's Amanda Blumenherst for the lead.
Sophomore All-American Cydney Clanton is in a six-way tie for 17th after posting an even round of 72. Clanton made up the difference on a first-hole double bogey with an eagle on the par-5 seventh hole and went on to post a pair of birdies on the back nine.
Freshman Patricia Sanz is tied for 58th after carding a 6-over-78. Tied for 77th is Mariana Macias with a 9-over-81 and Sarah Thead recorded a 10-over-82 and is 81st.
Auburn will tee off from No. 10 at 10:05 a.m. Saturday and be paired with Alabama and Wake Forest.
Live updates throughout the tournament are available on Golfstat.com.