Oct. 26, 2008
AUBURN - Playing at the Auburn derby Invitational, the Tiger women's golf team carded its lowest round of the tournament, coming in with a 6-over-par 294 to finish in fourth place in the three-day event. Auburn's Candace Schepperle led the team with an even-par 216, finishing fourth overall in the tournament.
The Derby took place at the Auburn University Club in Auburn, Ala. The par-72 course is played at 6,301 yards for the 54-hole tournament. Seventeen teams made up the tournament field, along with five individual players for a 90-player field.
Auburn head coach Kim Evans was thrilled with tournament, now in its 12th year. She was also happy with how her team performed over the weekend.
"I could not be more pleased with the golf course and the organization of the tournament this year," said Evans. "As far as the way our team played, I saw some good things out there this weekend. We have a lot to work on, but we are improving, getting stronger and I think by the end of the season we are going to be a pretty nice team."
Arizona State took the team Derby Invitational team title, carding a 5-over-par 869 (300-284-285) for the win. Auburn finished 27 strokes behind the leaders, posting a 32-over 896 (298-304-294) over the three days. Virginia took second with a 23-over 887, followed by Alabama at fourth with a 28-over 892. Ole Miss rounded out the top five with a 39-over-par 903.
Individually, it was Arizona State's Anna Nordqvist taking the win with a 9-under-par 207. She finished under par all three days, carding a 2-under 70 on the last day for the victory. Teammate Azahara Munoz and Virginia's Whitney Neuhauser tied for second with 5-under 211s. Munoz carded the low final-round score with a 3-under-par 69.
Auburn's Schepperle finished fourth with an even-par 144, posting an even-par 72 in the final round to hold on to her position, while Ole Miss' Dori Carter rounded out the top five with a 1-over-par 217.
"I think I played pretty steady today," said schepperle. "I did not hit it as well as I wanted to, but I stayed patient and got myself out of some trouble and saved myself in a couple of situations. I was really proud of myself that I hung in there."
She was also happy with the outcome of the tournament and being able to play at home.
"This tournament was awesome, it's great to play at your home course," said Schepperle. "Everybody did such a great job. The volunteers have been so great and it is fun to play in front of a home crowd."
Schepperle led a pack of three Tigers that finished in the top 25 at the tournament. Sophomore Sara Thead carded a final-round 74 to finish with a 7-over-par 233 and a share of 10th place while fellow sophomore Cydney Clanton rebounded from her second-round 83 to post an even-par 72 in the final round, moving up to a tie for 24th with a 12-over-par 228.
Freshman Patricia Sanz finished fourth on the Auburn squad with a 16-over 232, finishing in a tie for 36th, while fellow freshman Madison Overbey rounded out the team in a tie for 79th with a 26-over-par 242.
Senior Mariana Macias competed as an individual in the tournament, posting a 6-over 78 in the final round to finish in a tie for 50th with a 234.
With the conclusion of the Derby Invitational, the Tigers look ahead to the Hooters Collegiate Match Play, Nov. 2-4, at the Ginn Reunion Resort in Orlando, Fla. The match play tournament is the last of the 2008 fall season.
AUBURN, Ala. -- Final results from the Derby Invitational hosted by Auburn University at the Auburn University Club. Par: 72. Yardage: 6,301.
TEAM LEADERBOARD
1 - Arizona State - 300 - 284 - 285 --869
2 - Virginia - 289 - 298 - 300 --887
3 - Alabama - 294 - 302 - 296 --892
4 - Auburn - 298 - 304 - 294 --896
5 - Ole Miss - 305 - 305 - 293 --903
6 - Georgia - 308 - 305 - 296 --909
7 - Louisiana State - 314 - 300 - 297 --911
8 - South Carolina - 310 - 304 - 306 --920
9 - Kentucky - 315 - 308 - 297 --920
10 - Tulane - 307 - 311 - 302 --920
11 - Tennessee-Chattanooga -317 - 306 - 302 --925
12 - Central Florida - 310 - 316 - 300 --926
13 - Furman -309 -313 -307 --929
14 - Mississippi State - 312 - 309 - 310 --931
15 - Kansas - 311 - 306 - 314 --931
16 - Florida State - 310 - 329 - 317 --956
17 - Coastal Carolina - 324 - 321 - 326 --971
TOP 20 INDIVIDUALS AND AUBURN PLAYERS
1 - Anna Nordqvist, Arizona State - 70 - 67 - 70 -- 207
T2 - Whitney Neuhauser, Virginia - 69 - 71 - 71 -- 211
T2 - Azahara Munoz, Arizona State - 72 - 70 - 69 -- 211
4 - Candace Schepperle, Auburn - 71 - 73 - 72 -- 216
5 - Dori Carter, Ole Miss - 75 - 70 - 72 -- 217
T6 - Jennie Arseneault, Virginia - 73 - 71 - 74 -- 218
T6 - Megan McChrystal, Louisiana State - 74 - 73 - 71 -- 218
8 - Carolina Andrade, Georgia - 74 - 72 - 73 -- 219
9 - Brooke Pancake, Alabama - 70 - 77 - 73 -- 220
T10 - Sarah Thead, Auburn - 75 - 74 - 74 -- 223
T10 - Mallory Blackwelder, Kentucky - 78 - 74 - 71 -- 223
T12 - Meghna Bal, Kansas - 77 - 73 - 74 -- 224
T12 - Jennifer Osborn, Arizona State - 78 - 73 - 73 -- 224
T14 - Blair Lamb, Furman - 76 - 77 - 72 -- 225
T14 - Helena Blomberg, Alabama - 73 - 74 - 78 -- 225
T14 - Camilla Lennarth, Alabama - 77 - 74 - 74 -- 225
T17 - Kathleen Ekey, Alabama - 78 - 77 - 71 -- 226
T17 - Sara Grantham, Ole Miss - 76 - 78 - 72 -- 226
T17 - Mallory Hetzel, Georgia - 74 - 79 - 73 -- 226
T17 - Ashlee Rose, Kentucky - 74 - 76 - 76 -- 226
T24 - Cydney Clanton, Auburn - 73 - 83 - 72 -- 228
T36 - Patricia Sanz, Auburn - 82 - 74 - 76 -- 232
T50 - Mariana Macias*, Auburn - 79 - 77 - 78 -- 234
T79 - Madison Overbey, Auburn - 79 - 84 - 79 -- 242
* - Competed as an individual