Sept. 18, 2016
FRANKLIN, Tenn. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" The Auburn women's golf team continued its strong start to the 2016-17 season, earning a tie for fifth place at the Mason Rudolph Championship, which wrapped up Sunday.
The Tigers posted a team total of 289-298-292=879 (+15) to tie with Chattanooga for fifth place in the 15-team event, giving Auburn two top-five finishes in its first two events of the season. Strong play across the board ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" no Auburn player was more than 3-over-par in the final round ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" led the Tigers to the finish.
"A top-five finish is a solid tournament for our team," Auburn head coach Melissa Luellen said. "I am pleased with the effort of all five players this week. We left several shots out there, but I know the girls gained some confidence by the consistency of play in the final round."
Freshman Elena Hualde earned her second top-10 finish in as many events, finishing in sixth place with scores of 68-72-72=210 (-4). Along with a 68 in the final round of last week's Fall Kickoff, she is the first Auburn player to record four straight rounds of par or better since Marta Sanz in the 2013-14 season.
Hualde recorded four birdies and four bogeys in Sunday's final round. For the week, she had 14 birdies, tied for second-most in the tournament field.
"Another solid tournament for Elena," Luellen said, "and I predict many more top-10s in her future."
Junior Michaela Owen recorded her third career top-20 finish, tying for 18th with scores of 71-75-73=219 (+3). Owen was even at the turn Sunday, then bounced back from a pair of bogeys to post six straight pars and a birdie at the 18th hole to close out the week with a 73. Her 54-hole total of 219 marked the best of her collegiate career.
Fellow junior Kelli Murphy also posted a 1-over 73 in Sunday's final round, her best round of the week, to finish at 226 (+10). And freshman Kayley Marschke closed out her first collegiate 54-hole event with a second-straight 74, posting a 225 (+9) for the week.
Auburn is back in action Oct. 2-4 at the Cougar Classic in Charleston, S.C.
Final results from the Mason Rudolph Championship, hosted by Vanderbilt at the Vanderbilt Legends Club-North Course (par 72, 6,292 yards) in Franklin, Tenn.
Auburn Individuals
6. Elena Hualde ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 68-72-72=210 (-4)
T18. Michaela Owen ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 71-75-73=219 (+3)
T44. Kayley Marschke ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 77-74-74=225 (+9)
T50. Kelli Murphy ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 76-77-73=226 (+10)
T57. Mai Dechathipat ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 74-81-75=230 (+14)
Team Standings
1. Alabama ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 825 (-39)
2. SMU ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 868 (+4)
3. Northwestern ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 871 (+7)
4. UCF ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 876 (+12)
T5. Auburn ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 879 (+15)
T5. Chattanooga ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 879 (+15)
7. Vanderbilt ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 881 (+17)
8. Baylor ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 883 (+19)
9. Virginia ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 886 (+22)
10. Houston ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 888 (+24)
11. Tulane ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 890 (+26)
12. Troy ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 897 (+33)
13. Michigan State ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 909 (+45)
14. Middle Tennessee ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 918 (+54)
15. Yale ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 937 (+73)