Feb. 10, 2018
EATONTON, Ga. âââہ¡¬ÃƒÆ’¢Ãƒ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡¬Ãƒâ€¦Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Auburn sophomore Kayley Marschke earned her first collegiate tournament victory Saturday, winning the Lake Oconee Individual Collegiate Championship with a score of 68 (-4).
It was a career-low round for the sophomore from Suwanee, Ga., who birdied her final two holes to secure a one-stroke victory over four players that tied for second at 3-under. She played her last 13 holes at 6-under after opening with a double-bogey, getting one back with birdie at the second, then dropping back to 2-over with a bogey at the fifth.
"I had a rough start with a double on the first, but it didn't faze me at all," Marschke said. "I was able to brush it off and birdie the next hole which really helped my spirits. I really just played one shot at a time and never got ahead of myself. My putting was very spot-on today, and I'm feeling very confident in my game right now."
It was the fourth individual tournament victory for an Auburn player in the last two seasons âââہ¡¬ÃƒÆ’¢Ãƒ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡¬Ãƒâ€¦Ã¢â‚¬Å“ one each from Marschke and junior Melanie Talbott, and two from sophomore Elena Hualde.
Congrats to @kayy_marschkee for her first collegiate win! 🏆 Solid 68 (-4)!! #wareagle
A post shared by Auburn Womens Golf (@auburnwgolf) on Feb 10, 2018 at 2:16pm PST
"Kayley played really solid, making seven birdies," head coach Melissa Luellen said. "The highlight was on the final hole where she drove it in the right trees. She made the high-percentage play to pitch it out to the fairway, then hit it to four feet from 180 yards and made the putt to clinch the win. Great to see her enjoying the game. Kaleigh Telfer played very solid as well, hitting 16 greens. Proud of our ladies!"
Three other Tigers, all freshmen, competed in the event. Telfer finished in a tie for seventh place with a 71 (-1) that included three birdies. Julie McCarthy shot 75 (+3) to tie for 17th, and Mychael O'Berry finished in a tie for 27th with a 79 (+7).
The tournament consisted of 39 individuals from 10 different schools at the Reynolds Lake Oconee Great Waters course (par 72, 6,026 yards). As an individual event, there was no team score.
Originally scheduled as a 36-hole event for Sunday, the tournament was moved to Saturday and shortened to 18 holes because of impending weather.
The Tigers return to action next month at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate. The tournament runs March 2-4 at Long Cove Club in Hilton Head Island, S.C.
For the latest on Auburn women's golf, follow @AuburnWGolf on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Results from the Reynolds Lake Oconee Individual Collegiate Championship, hosted by Mercer at Reynolds Lake Oconee Great Waters (par 72, 6,026 yards) in Eatonton, Ga.:
Auburn Scores
1. Kayley Marschke âââہ¡¬ÃƒÆ’¢Ãƒ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡¬Ãƒâ€¦Ã¢â‚¬Å“ 68 (-4)
T7. Kaleigh Telfer âââہ¡¬ÃƒÆ’¢Ãƒ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡¬Ãƒâ€¦Ã¢â‚¬Å“ 71 (-1)
T17. Julie McCarthy âââہ¡¬ÃƒÆ’¢Ãƒ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡¬Ãƒâ€¦Ã¢â‚¬Å“ 75 (+3)
T27. Mychael O'Berry âââہ¡¬ÃƒÆ’¢Ãƒ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡¬Ãƒâ€¦Ã¢â‚¬Å“ 79 (+7)