April 23, 2017
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" Freshman Elena Hualde and junior Michaela Owen posted even-par rounds to lead the Auburn women's golf team in the final round of the SEC Championship Sunday at Greystone Golf & Country Club.
"Sometimes you learn more from your defeats than you do from your wins," Auburn head coach Melissa Luellen said. "It's some of the growing pains, having to learn and experience. The thing about this team, this year when they've played well, they've put it all together. There's always different situations, there's always something to learn, so that's what we're trying to teach ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" there's always things they can learn and take away."
Hualde put together back-to-back rounds of even par 72 to wrap up her week as Auburn's top individual finisher, posting a 221 (+5) for the week. Sunday's round was consistent throughout, with 16 pars and just one bogey in her first 17 holes, and she rolled in a 15-footer at the 18th for birdie to move back to even par for the day.
Owen improved by two shots each day, shooting 76-74-72=222, tying junior Kelli Murphy at 6-over for the week. Owen overcame a tough double-bogey on the fifth hole with three birdies on the back nine, playing her final 13 holes at 2-under to finish off an even-par round. Freshman Kayley Marschke fought to the finish with birdies on two of her last three holes to record a 76 (+4), and Murphy and sophomore Melanie Talbott carded scores of 77 Sunday.
As a team, Auburn shot 297 (+9) Sunday and finished at 594 (+30) for the week. Florida captured the SEC team title, and South Carolina's Katelyn Dambaugh was the individual medalist at 12-under.
Auburn will await its postseason destination later this week as NCAA Regional selections will be announced Thursday morning. The selection show will air live at 10 a.m. CT on Golf Channel. Potential NCAA Regional sites are Athens, Ga.; Columbus, Ohio; Lubbock, Texas; and Albuquerque, N.M.
Final results from the 2017 SEC Women's Golf Championship, hosted by the Southeastern Conference at Greystone Golf & Country Club ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" Legacy Course (par 72, 6,202 yards) in Birmingham, Ala.:
Team Standings
1. Florida ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 842 (-22)
T2. Alabama ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 855 (-9)
T2. Georgia ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 855 (-9)
4. Arkansas ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 857 (-7)
T5. Texas A&M ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 860 (-4)
T5. South Carolina ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 860 (-4)
7. Tennessee ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 863 (-1)
8. LSU ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 873 (+9)
9. Vanderbilt ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 882 (+18)
10. Kentucky ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 885 (+21)
11. Mississippi State ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 887 (+23)
12. Missouri ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 889 (+25)
13. Ole Miss ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 891 (+27)
14. Auburn ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 894 (+30)
Auburn Individuals
T33. Elena Hualde ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 77-72-72=221 (+5)
T36. Kelli Murphy ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 73-72-77=222 (+6)
T36. Michaela Owen ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 76-74-72=222 (+6)
T59. Kayley Marschke ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 74-79-76=229 (+13)
68. Melanie Talbott ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 77-81-77=235 (+19)