Feb. 7, 2017
ORLANDO, Fla. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" Freshman Elena Hualde earned her third top-10 finish of the year, and Auburn posted its best team score in three seasons at the UCF Challenge, which concluded Tuesday at Eagle Creek Golf Club.
The Tigers shot an even-par 288 in Tuesday's final round to finish the week in seventh place at even-par 864, Auburn's best team total since the 2014 Alamo Invitational. It marks the 12th time in program history for Auburn to finish a tournament at par or better as a team.
"Very pleased with the performance today to finish the tournament at even par," Auburn head coach Melissa Luellen said. "The mindset today was superb, which is evident by the plus-six start after our first six holes, then battling back to even par. We proved that we can make birdies as we had 49 for the three days. I just love that the team is gaining a belief in their ability to bounce back. And it was good to see Elena earn another top-10."
Hualde finished in a tie for seventh place with scores of 71-67-72=210 (-6), her best 54-hole score as a Tiger and tied for Auburn's second-best of the season. Starting on the ninth hole with a bogey, her final round saw a bogey-free back nine that included two birdies. She would make three straight bogeys on holes 1-3, but rebounded with a pair of birdies over her final five holes to finish off an even-par day.
Senior Clara Baena recorded her best round of the season with a 1-under-par 71. She made five birdies on the day, including three in a row on holes 16-18.
"Very happy for Clara to have a solid round today," Luellen said. "She has struggled, and many times one good round can be the path to more good golf."
Junior Michaela Owen matched Baena's round with a 71 of her own, her second round under par this week. Owen had four birdies, one bogey and a double-bogey on her round; she finished in a tie for 28th. Sophomore Melanie Talbott closed with a 74 (+2) to tie for 45th in her first tournament of the season, and junior Kelli Murphy carded a 75 (+3) in her final round, finishing in a tie for 54th.
Clemson and Miami tied for the team title at 14-under with Clemson winning the tiebreaker. Texas, UCF and Mississippi State tied for third at 10-under. MSU's Chieh Jessica Peng was tournament medalist at 11-under.
Auburn is back in action later this month when the Tigers will host a one-day dual match against Tennessee on Sunday, Feb. 26, at the Auburn University Club. I
Final results from the UCF Challenge, hosted by Central Florida at Eagle Creek Golf Club (par 72, 6,349 yards) in Orlando, Fla.
Final Team Standings
^T1. Clemson ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 850 (-14)
T1. Miami ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 850 (-14)
T3. Texas ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 854 (-10)
T3. UCF ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 854 (-10)
T3. Mississippi State ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 854 (-10)
6. Kent State ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 861 (-3)
7. Auburn ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 864 (E)
T8. Wisconsin ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 869 (+5)
T8. SMU ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 869 (+5)
10. Daytona State College ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 872 (+8)
11. Iowa State ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 873 (+9)
12. Kentucky ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 874 (+10)
T13. Tulane ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 876 (+12)
T13. East Carolina ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 876 (+12)
15. Old Dominion ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 877 (+13)
16. South Florida ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 888 (+24)
17. UNC Wilmington ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 906 (+42)
^Clemson wins on tiebreaker
Auburn Individuals
T7. Elena Hualde ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 71-67-72=210 (-6)
T28. Michaela Owen ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 70-76-71=217 (+1)
T45. Melanie Talbott ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 73-73-74=220 (+4)
T54. Kelli Murphy ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 70-77-75=222 (+6)
T69. Clara Baena ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 77-76-71=224 (+8)
*T81. Mai Dechathipat ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 73-77-79=229 (+13)
*competing as individual; score does not count toward team total