Nov. 2, 2008
REUNION, Fla. - Junior Candace Schepperle carded a 4-under-par 140 after 36 holes of stroke play Sunday at the Hooters Collegiate Match Play Championship at the Ginn Reunion Resort in Reunion, Fla., leading Auburn to a 9-over-par 585 and a No. 6 seed heading into the match play portion of the tournament.
Conducted by the National Golf Coaches Association, the Hooters Collegiate Match Play Championship is a three-day tournament that pits 16 of the top college women's golf teams against each other in a combination stroke play/match play format. Saturday's 36-hole qualifier seeded the teams for the match play portion as the top eight teams go to the championship bracket and the bottom eight go to the consolation.
The tournament is being played at the Ginn Reunion Resort, using nine holes from the Independence Course and nine holes from the Legacy Course - the same layout used for the LPGA's Ginn Open.
Schepperle tied for fourth with her 4-under total (70-70--140), leading the Tigers to a sixth-place finish and an appearance in the championship bracket. Two other Auburn players finished in the top 30 of the 80-player field as Sarah Thead finished tied for 24th with a 3-over-par 147 (73-74) and Cydney Clanton came in a tie for 30th with a 4-over 148 (76-72).
Patricia Sanz was fourth in Auburn's lineup, finishing tied for 50th with a two-round total 75-77--152. Senior Mariana Macias followed in a tie for 55th with a 9-over-par 153 (78-75).
"I was really happy with how we played today," said head coach Kim Evans. "This is a very tough field and to come out in the top half for match play is great. We can't rest in this, though, we have to have the whole team on board and playing well to advance in the bracket now."
UCLA was the top team after the two rounds of stroke play and will be the top seed heading into match play. All five Bruins finished in the top 30, led by Stephanie Kono as she earned medalist honors with a 12-under-par 132, carding consecutive rounds of 6-under 66. UCLA finished the day with a 9-under 567, holding a nine-stroke lead over Virginia.
Finishing as the sixth seed, Auburn will take on No. 3 seed Alabama in the first round of match play. The Crimson Tide posted a 3-over-par 579 in the stroke play rounds, led by Kathleen Ekey as she finished in a tie for seventh with a 2-under 142.
The winner of the Auburn-Alabama match will take on the winner of No. 2 Virginia and No. 7 Denver.
With five players on each team, the players are seeded and will play their corresponding seed on the opponent's team. The team that wins at least three of the five matches will move on to the next round.
Fans can follow all the action at the Hooters Collegiate Match Play Championship by accessing live stats at www.GolfStat.com.
REUNION, Fla. - Stroke play results from the Hooters Collegiate Match Play Championship hosted by the National Golf Coaches Association at the Ginn Reunion Resort's Independence and Legacy Courses. Par: 72. Yardage: 6,245.
TEAM LEADERBOARD
1 - UCLA - 281-286--567 (-9)
2 - Virginia - 292-284--576 (E)
3 - Alabama - 293-286--579 (+3)
T4 - Southern California - 298-284--582 (+6)
T4 - Duke - 288-294--582 (+6)
6 - Auburn - 294-291--585 (+9)
7 - Denver - 292-296--588 (+12)
8 - Michigan State - 293-297--590 (+14)
T9 - Kent State - 291-300--591 (+15)
T9 - Georgia - 304-287--591 (+15)
11 - Texas A&M University - 299-299--598 (+22)
12 - Tennessee - 304-299--603 (+27)
T13 - Arizona - 308-297--605 (+29)
T13 - Florida - 302-303--605 (+29)
15 - Vanderbilt - 300-307--607 (+31)
16 - Tulsa - 301-317--618 (+42)
INDIVIDUAL TOP 15 AND AUBURN PLAYERS
1 - Stephanie Kono (UCLA) - 66-66--132 (-12)
2 - Mina Harigae (Duke) - 69-69--138 (-6)
3 - Calle Nielson (Virginia) - 68-71-139 (-5)
T4 - Laura Kueny (Michigan State) - 71-69--140 (-4)
T4 - Candace Schepperle (Auburn) - 70-70--140 (-4)
T4 - Jennifer Song (Southern California) - 72-68--140 (-4)
T7 - Kathleen Ekey (Alabama) - 72-70--142 (-2)
T7 - Katie Kempter (Denver) - 69-73--142 (-2)
9 - Stephanie Sherlock (Denver) - 71-72--143 (-1)
T10 - Camilla Lennarth (Alabama) - 73-71--144 (E)
T10 - Lizette Salas (Southern California) - 73-71--144 (E)
T10 - Jessica Yadloczky (Florida) - 73-71--144 (E)
T10 - Marta Silva (Georgia) - 76-68--144 (E)
T10 - Kirby Dreher (KentState) - 71-73--144 (E)
T10 - Tiffany Joh (UCLA) - 71-73--144 (E)
T24 - Sarah Thead (Auburn) - 73-74--147 (+3)
T30 - Cydney Clanton (Auburn) - 76-72--148 (+4)
T50 - Patricia Sanz (Auburn) - 75-77--152 (+8)
T55 - Mariana Macias (Auburn) - 78-75--153 (+9)