Oct. 9, 2015
Michaela Owen shot a 74 in the opening round of the Tar Heel Invitational. (Wade Rackley photo)
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" The Auburn women's golf team shot a first-round 298 (+10) Friday to open the Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational at the UNC Finley Golf Course.
The Tigers were led by sophomore Michaela Owen and freshman Melanie Talbott, who each posted scores of 74 (+2) in the opening round. Owen made the turn at even par with one birdie and one bogey on the front nine, then had three bogeys along with a birdie on the back nine.
Talbott, meanwhile, was 1-over at the turn after an opening birdie and a pair of bogeys, but got two strokes back and moved under par as she holed out for eagle on the par-4 11th. After a pair of bogeys and a double, she closed with a birdie to finish at 2-over for the day.
Senior Alex Harrell and sophomore Kelli Murphy were one shot back with matching scores of 75 (+3). Murphy made par on nine of her first 10 holes and had two birdies on the back nine to highlight her day, and Harrell rebounded from three early bogeys and played the final 14 holes at even par. Junior Clara Baena contributed a 77 (+5).
Auburn is one shot back of seventh-place Virginia and three back of tournament host North Carolina heading into the second round. Seventh-ranked Duke leads the tournament at 3-under with Alabama four shots back. Individually, Michigan State's Katie Sharp shot 68 and leads by one shot at 4-under. Only four players were under par for the day.
The Tigers will be paired with Virginia and Tennessee for Saturday's second round, slated to begin at 8:09 a.m. CT on the first tee. Live scoring is available at golfstat.com.
First-round results from the Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational, hosted by the University of North Carolina at the UNC Finley Golf Course (par 72, 6,379 yards):
Team Standings
1. Duke ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 285 (-3)
2. Alabama ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 289 (+1)
T3. Louisville ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 292 (+4)
T3. NC State ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 292 (+4)
5. Michigan State ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 293 (+5)
6. North Carolina ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 295 (+7)
7. Virginia ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 297 (+9)
8. Auburn ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 298 (+10)
T9. Tennessee ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 299 (+11)
T9. South Carolina ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 299 (+11)
T11. Arkansas ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 302 (+14)
T11. Oregon ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 302 (+14)
T11. LSU ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 302 (+14)
T14. Wake Forest ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 305 (+17)
T14. UNC Wilmington ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 305 (+17)
16. Baylor ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 306 (+18)
17. Rollins College ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 307 (+19)
18. Kentucky ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 308 (+20)
Auburn Individuals
T28. Michaela Owen ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 74 (+2)
T28. Melanie Talbott ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 74 (+2)
T38. Kelli Murphy ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 75 (+3)
T38. Alex Harrell ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 75 (+3)
T60. Clara Baena ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 77 (+5)