March 19, 2018
AUBURN, Ala. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" The Auburn women's golf team held steady in the second round of the Evans Derby Experience, carding a 2-over-par 290 on Monday at the Auburn University Club.
The 27th-ranked Tigers are in fifth place after 36 holes at 1-under-par 575, one shot ahead of No. 9 South Carolina.
"As a team we had a rough beginning and end, but we played some super golf in the middle," Auburn head coach Melissa Luellen said. "We didn't have our best day but I am proud of the fight. There were some mental errors that cost the team some shots. If we can learn to make smarter decisions, we can save a stroke every nine holes, and that adds up to a lot of strokes in a team competition.
"These first two days have been perfect conditions for scoring. Wind is predicted for tomorrow, which will make things very interesting at the AU Club."
Senior Kelli Murphy led the Tigers on Monday with a 1-under-par 71 to move to 1-under for the tournament and into a tie for 18th place. She shook off a pair of early bogeys with five birdies over the next 12 holes to briefly get to 3-under for the day, but held on to the under-par round despite a pair of bogeys in her final three holes.
The Tigers' other senior, Michaela Owen, continues to lead the charge for Auburn at 3-under for the week after an even-par 72 Monday. She was 1-under at the turn and fought off a couple of tough holes on the back nine to finish with a birdie. It was her ninth round at even par or better this season, and she is tied for 10th place heading into Tuesday's final round.
Playing as an individual, sophomore Kayley Marschke is tied for 27th at 1-over; she posted a 74 (+2) on Monday. Four Tigers are tied at 2-over for the week. Sophomore Elena Hualde and freshmen Kaleigh Telfer, Mychael O'Berry and Julie McCarthy are all in a tie for 30th place at 146 (+2). O'Berry posted a second-round 73, Hualde and Telfer both shot 74 and McCarthy finished with a 75.
Third-ranked Arkansas moved into the tournament lead with a second-round 279 (-9); the Razorbacks are five shots clear of the field at 559 (-17) for the week. Duke moved into second place at 12-under. The Razorbacks' Maria Fassi held onto her first-round lead with a 67 (-5) Monday; she is 13-under for the week and six shots ahead of second place.
The Evans Derby Experience concludes Tuesday with the final round beginning at 8 a.m. CT. The teams will once again begin play with a shotgun start in foursomes; Auburn's players will begin play on holes 7-12, paired with South Carolina, Florida and Louisville. Admission is free for all fans, and live scoring is available at Golfstat.com.
Second-round results from the Evans Derby Experience, hosted by Auburn at the Auburn University Club (par 72, 6,280 yards) in Auburn, Ala.:
Team Standings
1. Arkansas ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 559 (-17)
2. Duke ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 564 (-12)
3. Florida State ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 570 (-6)
4. Alabama ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 572 (-4)
5. Auburn ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 575 (-1)
6. South Carolina ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 576 (E)
7. Florida ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 581 (+5)
T8. Louisville ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 583 (+7)
T8. Wake Forest ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 583 (+7)
10. Ole Miss ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 590 (+14)
11. Mississippi State ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 604 (+28)
12. Michigan ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 613 (+37)
Auburn Individuals
T10. Michaela Owen ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 69-72=141 (-3)
T18. Kelli Murphy ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 72-71=143 (-1)
*T27. Kayley Marschke ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 71-74=145 (+1)
T30. Elena Hualde ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 72-74=146 (+2)
T30. Kaleigh Telfer ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 72-74=146 (+2)
T30. Mychael O'Berry ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 73-73=146 (+2)
*T30. Julie McCarthy ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 71-75=146 (+2)
*70. Melanie Talbott ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" 77-83=160 (+16)
*Played as individual; score does not count toward team total