Sept. 16, 2016
FRANKLIN, Tenn. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" Freshman Elena Hualde is tied for the lead after one round, and the Auburn women's golf team put together a strong first day Friday at the Mason Rudolph Championship.
Hualde ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" coming off a win in her first collegiate event last week ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" grabbed a share of the tournament lead once again with a 4-under-par 68, and junior Michaela Owen posted a 1-under-par 71 to pace Auburn through the first 18 holes at the Vanderbilt Legends Club ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" North Course.
"Solid start today, led by Elena," Auburn head coach Melissa Luellen said. "She played very solid. Her attitude toward golf has spread through the team ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" keep it simple and enjoy yourself. The attitudes and composure of each player is what I expect from them. They played and looked like they belong."
As a team, Auburn is in fourth place through one round after a team score of 289 (+1), the Tigers' best 18-hole total since last year's Mason Rudolph Championship. The Tigers are five shots back of co-leaders Northwestern and Alabama, who both shot 284 (-4) Friday.
"This young team is growing in front of our eyes," Luellen said. "The greens (at the Vanderbilt Legends Club) are very similar to those that we practice on daily at the Jack Key Golf Facility, so the girls feel very comfortable on them."
Hualde posted seven birdies and three bogeys on her round, including four birdies in the first five holes as she made the turn in 33 (-3). Five straight pars gave way to a bogey at 15, but she bounced back with two straight birdies at 16 and 17, then closed with a par for her second straight round of 68. She shares the first-round lead with Alabama's Cheyenne Knight.
Owen put together one of her best rounds at Auburn, carding a 71 (-1) that put her in a tie for eighth place. She made the turn at even par after carding one bogey and one birdie on the front nine, then coupled a pair of birdies at the 10th and 15th with one bogey on the back.
Sophomore Mai Dechathipat posted a 2-over 74 that included four birdies, and junior Kelli Murphy finished with a 4-over 76. Freshman Kayley Marschke was one shot back of Murphy with a 77 (+5).
Second-round play gets underway Saturday morning with Auburn set to tee off at 9:20 a.m. on the first tee, paired with UCF and Troy. Live scoring is available at birdiefire.com, and fans can follow @AuburnWGolf on Twitter and Instagram for updates.
First-round results from the Mason Rudolph Championship, hosted by Vanderbilt at the Vanderbilt Legends Club ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" North Course (par 72, 6,292 yards) in Franklin, Tenn.
Auburn Individuals
T1. Elena Hualde ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 68 (-4)
T8. Michaela Owen ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 71 (-1)
T30. Mai Dechathipat ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 74 (+2)
T47. Kelli Murphy ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 76 (+4)
T57. Kayley Marschke ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 77 (+5)
Team Standings
T1. Northwestern ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 284 (-4)
T1. Alabama ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 284 (-4)
3. SMU ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 288 (E)
4. Auburn ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 289 (+1)
T5. UCF ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 291 (+3)
T5. Troy ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 291 (+3)
T7. Chattanooga ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 292 (+4)
T8. Baylor ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 295 (+7)
T8. Vanderbilt ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 295 (+7)
10. Houston -299 (+11)
11. Tulane ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 300 (+12)
12. Michigan State ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 301 (+13)
13. Virginia ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 303 (+15)
14. Middle Tennessee ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 309 (+21)
15. Yale ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 311 (+23)