Oct. 23, 2017
SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- Senior Kelli Murphy shot a 5-under-par 67, and the Auburn women's golf team moved three spots up the leaderboard in Monday's second round of the Maryb S. Kauth Invitational.
With a team score of 286 (-2), the Tigers moved from 11th place up to eighth with a 15-stroke improvement over Sunday's opening round. Three Auburn players finished at even par or better in the second round.
"As a team, we made more birdies today and took better advantage of the par-5s," Auburn head coach Melissa Luellen said. "Kelli played really well today. She maximized her opportunities and put herself in good position. She just needs to put today behind her and focus on tomorrow. She's got a third day in her, this course fits her game."
Murphy's bogey-free 67 was both her low round of the season and tied for the team's lowest 18-hole individual score this year. Starting on the 10th hole, Murphy made four birdies on the back nine to make the turn at 4-under, then birdied the third hole before recording six straight pars down the stretch. Coupled with a 73 from Sunday, Murphy is tied for seventh place at 140 (-4) through 36 holes.
Freshman Kaleigh Telfer posted her best round as a Tiger with a 71 (-1) Monday, a five-shot improvement over her opening round. She made the turn at 1-under with two birdies and a bogey on the back, then fell back to even par through 14 holes before closing with a birdie at the ninth. Telfer is tied for 28th place.
Senior Michaela Owen was bogey-free over her final 17 holes to post an even-par 72. After an opening bogey, she carded 14 straight pars before getting back to even with a birdie at the seventh hole. It also marked a five-shot improvement over her first round as she moved into a tie for 38th place.
Freshman Mychael O'Berry shot 76 (+5), and sophomore Elena Hualde recorded a 79 (+7).
Arkansas expanded its tournament lead with a 15-under round of 273; the Razorbacks are 22-under and lead by 18 shots over TCU (-2). Kansas State's Connie Jaffrey and TCU's Emmy Martin are co-leaders at 7-under, three shots ahead of Murphy.
Tuesday's final round gets underway at 8:45 a.m. with a shotgun start. Auburn is paired with Oklahoma and Kansas State for the final 18 holes. Live scoring is available at birdiefire.com.
Second-round results from the Maryb S. Kauth Invitational, hosted by UTSA at Briggs Ranch Golf Club in San Antonio, Texas (par 72, 6,450 yards):
Team Standings
1. Arkansas -- 554 (-22)
2. TCU -- 572 (-4)
3. Texas A&M -- 575 (-1)
T4. Denver -- 577 (+1)
T4. Houston -- 577 (+1)
6. Maryland -- 583 (+7)
7. Oklahoma -- 585 (+9)
8. Auburn -- 587 (+11)
9. Kansas State -- 588 (+12)
10. UTSA -- 591 (+15)
11. North Texas -- 599 (+23)
12. Middle Tennessee -- 600 (+24)
13. Texas State -- 607 (+31)
14. Texas Tech -- 611 (+35)
Auburn Individuals
T7. Kelli Murphy -- 73-67=140 (-4)
T28. Kaleigh Telfer -- 76-71=147 (+3)
T38. Michaela Owen -- 77-72=149 (+5)
T48. Mychael O'Berry -- 75-76=151 (+7)
T69. Elena Hualde -- 80-79=159 (+15)