Nov. 3, 2017
SAN JOSE DEL CABO, Mexico ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" The Auburn women's golf team is in fifth place after Friday's first round of the inaugural Battle at the Beach.
Led by a pair of 70s from senior Kelli Murphy and sophomore Elena Hualde, the Tigers shot 288 (+4) on the par-71 layout at Club Campestre. Murphy and Hualde are tied for eighth place.
Murphy started on the 11th hole and made the turn at even par after going birdie-bogey at 17 and 18. She fell to 1-over with bogey at the first, but made birdies at Nos. 4, 6, and 7 to get back to red numbers. Hualde had a similar round with one birdie and one bogey on the back nine before finishing with three birdies over her final six holes to finish under par for the fourth time in 10 rounds this season.
Senior Michaela Owen shot a 73 (+2) that included three birdies, and freshman Kaleigh Telfer turned in a 75 (+4) for Auburn's other two counting scores.
The Tigers are seven shots back of first-round leader Oklahoma, who finished with a 281 (-3). UCLA is in second place at 282 (-2). Wake Forest's Jennifer Kupcho and Houston's Leonie Harm are tied for the individual lead with scores of 67 (-4).
Play begins at 10:30 a.m. CT for Saturday's second round; all three rounds of the tournament are shotgun start. Semi-live scoring is available at birdiefire.com.
First-round results from the Battle at the Beach, hosted by Baylor at Club Campestre in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico (par 71, 6,209 yards):
Team Standings
1. Oklahoma ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬"281 (-3)
2. UCLA ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 282 (-2)
3. Houston ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 283 (-1)
4. Texas ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 286 (+2)
5. Auburn ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 288 (+4)
T6. Wake Forest ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 290 (+6)
T6. Virginia ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 290 (+6)
T6. Baylor ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 290 (+6)
9. North Carolina ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 294 (+10)
T10. TCU ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 296 (+12)
T10. Mississippi State ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 296 (+12)
12. Vanderbilt ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 299 (+15)
13. Ohio State ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 301 (+17)
14. Tulane ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 302 (+18)
Auburn Individuals
T8. Kelli Murphy ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 70 (-1)
T8. Elena Hualde ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 70 (-1)
T30. Michaela Owen ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 73 (+2)
T42. Kaleigh Telfer ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 75 (+4)
*T64. Mychael O'Berry ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 78 (+7)
T70. Kayley Marschke ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 79 (+8)
*Playing as individual; score does not count toward team total