March 29, 2009
ATHENS, Ga. - After two days of rain delays and cancellations, the No. 7 Auburn women's golf team made good on its one opportunity Sunday as the Tigers carded an 11-over-par 299 to win the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic at the University of Georgia Golf Course in Athens, Ga.
Originally scheduled as a three-day, 54-hole tournament, rain and course conditions forced the event to be abbreviated to 18 holes.
"We had one shot at it today, 18 holes, and the team did what they had to do," said Auburn head coach Kim Evans. "They got it done. They just went out there and gutted it out better than anyone else. It wasn't always pretty, but they hung in there to the end and they got it."
Junior Candace Schepperle led the Tigers on the day, posting an even-par 72 to finish in a tie for third. Sophomore Cydney Clanton and freshman Patricia Sanz also finished in the top five, carding 2-over-par 74s to finish in a tie for fifth.
Freshman Haley Wilson followed in a tie for 50th with a 7-over 79 while sophomore Sarah Thead rounded out the Auburn lineup in a tie for 67th with a 9-over 81.
Freshman Madison Overbey also competed at the tournament as an individual, placing in a tie for 91st with a 14-over-par 86.
Playing in cold, windy and difficult wet conditions, there were only two rounds posted under par in the tournament. Alabama's Kathleen Ekey won the individual title with a 3-under-par 69 while Kent State's Kirby Dreher followed in second with a 2-under 70.
"It was pretty cold out there today. It was wet, windy and the course felt like soup," said Evans. "It is a tough golf course, one of the best we play, and it was a very difficult one today."
On the team leaderboard, it was Kent State and Alabama finishing in a tie for second, three strokes behind Auburn with a 14-over-par 302s. North Carolina and Ohio State rounded out the top five, finishing in a tie for fourth with 16-over 304s.
For Auburn, it marked the third time ever for the Tigers to win the team title at the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic. AU last won in 2007 with the first title coming in 1989.
"I'm very proud of them all, getting out there and taking care of business today," said Evans. "When you only have one day to do it, it can be pretty crazy."
Evans said one of the most difficult aspects of the tournament was waiting out the weather for the first two days of the tournament. Play on the first day was initially delayed before eventually being cancelled - the first time ever in the history of the tournament for an entire round to be called off. The second round was cancelled early in the morning, based on weather predictions for the afternoon.
Auburn took advantage of the down time on Saturday by getting in some time in the weight room, studying and taking in a movie.
"They did a great job during those first two days, they were able to keep themselves occupied and that is hard to do," said Evans. "It is hard to sit around, wait and still be ready to get out on the golf course."
The Tigers will return to Auburn for a few days before hitting the road again, this time to Gainesville, Fla., for the SunTrust Lady Gator Invitational. The tournament is scheduled for April 6-7 at the Mark Bostick Golf Course.