Sept. 15, 2015
Kelli Murphy earned her third career top-20 finish at the Cougar Classic. (Wade Rackley photo)
CHARLESTON, S.C. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" The Auburn women's golf team wrapped up their first tournament of the 2015-16 season with a tie for ninth place at the Cougar Classic on Tuesday.
The Tigers posted rounds of 298-292-304=894 (+30) to finish even with UCF for ninth place in the 20-team field. Auburn was just one shot out of eighth place and two shots back of seventh place.
Sophomore Kelli Murphy was the Tigers' top finisher, recording rounds of 73-73-74=220 (+4), earning her third career top-20 finish with a tie for 17th. After starting on the eighth hole, she recorded three bogeys on the back nine and another at the third to stand 4-over through 14 holes. But she rolled off three straight birdies on holes 4-6 to get back to 1-over, then closed with a bogey for a 74.
Junior Clara Baena also finished strong with a 75 (+3), giving her a total of 77-74-75=226 (+10) for the week. She made a pair of birdies on the day at the 15th and 18th, and she played the front nine at just 1-over to close out the tournament. Senior Alex Harrell matched Baena's score for the week at 10-over, closing with a 76 (+4).
Arkansas defended its team title with a 7-under total of 857. Georgia was seven shots back at even par for the week. Florida's Taylor Tomlinson and Clemson's Alice Hewson were co-medalists at 6-under.
The Tigers face a quick turnaround as they will travel from Charleston to Nashville in preparation for the Mason Rudolph Championship, which runs Friday-Sunday at the Vanderbilt Legends Club in Franklin, Tenn.
Final results from the Powerade Cougar Classic, hosted by College of Charleston at Yeamans Hall Club in Charleston, S.C. (par 72, 6,204 yards)
Team Standings
1. Arkansas ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 857 (-7)
2. Georgia ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 864 (E)
3. Virginia ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 865 (+1)
4. Florida ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 869 (+5)
5. Clemson ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 878 (+14)
6. Wake Forest ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 889 (+25)
7. NC State ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 892 (+28)
8. Indiana ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 893 (+29)
T9. Auburn ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 894 (+30)
T9. UCF ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 894 (+30)
11. Furman ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 896 (+32)
T12. North Carolina ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 897 (+33)
T12. Michigan ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 897 (+33)
T14. College of Charleston ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 900 (+36)
T14. Penn State ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 900 (+36)
16. Mississippi State ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 904 (+40)
17. Wisconsin ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 927 (+63)
18. Charleston Southern ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 932 (+68)
19. Maryland ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 941 (+77)
20. UNC Greensboro ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 958 (+94)
Auburn Individuals
T17. Kelli Murphy ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 73-73-74=220 (+4)
T40. Michaela Owen ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 72-73-80=225 (+9)
T50. Clara Baena ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 77-74-75=226 (+10)
T50. Alex Harrell ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 78-72-76=226 (+10)
*T81. Jamie Yun ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 72-83-78=233 (+17)
T86. Mai Dechathipat ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 76-81-79=236 (+20)
*competing as individual; score does not count toward team total