Oct. 24, 2009
WILMINGTON, N.C. - The Auburn duo of Candace Schepperle and Cydney Clanton combined for 11 birdies in the second round of the NCAA Fall Preview, improving the third-ranked Tigers by four strokes for a 7-over-par 295 to continue its stay at the sixth-place position.
Hosted by the University of North Carolina-Wilmington, the NCAA Fall Preview is a 54-hole tournament being played at the par-72, 6,325-yard Country Club of Landfall Pete Dye Course, the site of the 2010 NCAA Championship. The three-day tournament features nine teams ranked in the GolfWorld top-10 and 17 ranked in the top-25.
Play was delayed for a short time due to rain.
"We were showing some of our youth out there today," Auburn head coach Kim Evans said. "We let some good things slip by us, but we're getting there. We had some great play out of our leaders, but we have to regroup and keep it simple on such a championship course like this."
The Tigers were led by Schepperle, who tallied three birdies on the front nine before finding three more on the back between Nos. 13-16, giving her a 4-under 68 for the second round. The senior will enter the final round in fourth place after starting the second round in a tie for 36th.
"Candace played very well through the rain today," Evans said. "She putted very well, but she also was hitting the ball very close to the pin. She wasn't satisfied with her numbers yesterday, but she was prepared to play a good round of golf today so she came out and got what she wanted."
Giving Auburn another top-notch performance, Clanton continued her solid play as she carded a 2-under 70 to jump into second place. Despite being even after the first nine, the junior found four birdies on the back, including one on No. 18 to give her another 2-under round.
Clanton, at 4-under par, is only one stroke behind the leader, Cheyenne Woods of Wake Forest at 5-under, while Schepperle is within striking distance at 1-under par.
"Cydney and Candace both had incredible rounds today," Evans noted. "They are both in contention to win and are really doing a great job out there. I saw some amazing shots out of them today."
Following for the Tigers, Carlie Yadloczky finished with a 5-over 77, falling into a tie for 40th. Patricia Sanz followed with another 8-over 80 and is now tied for 75th. Rounding out the day for the Tigers, Haley Wilson hit for an 8-over 80 to move into a tie for 80th.
Now atop the team leaderboard, UCLA shot for a 2-over 290 (583). In second is Wake Forest (591) after shooting the tournament's only sub par-round thus far with a 1-under 287 for the second round. Arizona State (592) holds the third-place spot following an 11-over 299 second round. Duke (593) and Purdue (593) are tied for fourth-place.
Auburn, at 594, is followed by Virginia (596), Southern California (597), Denver (598) and LSU (605) to round out the top-ten.
"We have to make things simpler for ourselves," Evans said. "We need to play the course and take it one shot at a time. This is a true championship golf course and we cannot make things too difficult for us."
The Tigers will begin the final round of the NCAA Fall Preview at 7:30 a.m. CT with a shotgun start. Auburn will be paired with Purdue and Duke for the round.
Fans can follow final round action at www.GolfStat.com.
TEAM RESULTS
1 - UCLA - 293-290--583 (+7)
2 - Wake Forest - 304-287--591 (+15)
3 - Arizona State - 293-299--592 (+16)
T4 - Duke - 296-297--593 (+17)
T4 - Purdue - 302-291--593 (+17)
6 - Auburn - 299-295--594 (+18)
7 - Virginia - 300-296--596 (+20)
8 - Southern California - 288-309--597 (+21)
9 - Denver - 301-297--598 (+22)
10 - LSU - 307-298--605 (+29)
T11 - Pepperdine - 303-303--606 (+30)
T11 - Michigan State - 301-305--606 (+30)
T11 - Georgia - 305-301--606 (+30)
T11 - Oklahoma State - 305-301--606 (+30)
15 - Alabama - 298-310--608 (+32)
16 - North Carolina - 308-303--611 (+35)
17 - New Mexico - 303-313--616 (+40)
18 - North Carolina Wilmington - 317-303--620 (+44)
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
2 - Cydney Clanton - 70-70--140 (-4)
4 - Candace Schepperle - 75-68--143 (-1)
T40 - Carlie Yadloczky - 74-77--151 (+7)
T75 - Patricia Sanz - 80-80--160--(+16)
80 - Haley Wilson - 82-80--162 (+18)