April 17, 2018
| 2017-18 Auburn Women's Golf | Event #10 | SEC Championship | |
| Dates | Wednesday, April 18-Sunday, April 22 |
| Location | Greystone G&CC - Legacy (Par 72; 6,253 yards) | Birmingham, Ala. |
| Format | 54-hole stroke play; four individual scores count toward team total, followed by eight-team match play bracket |
| Field | Auburn, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt |
| Online | Live Scoring | Twitter: @AuburnWGolf | Auburn Season Stats | Tournament Notes |
| AU Tee Times | Wednesday: 8:50 a.m. CT (#1 tee) Thursday-Sunday: TBD |
By Jeff Shearer
AuburnTigers.com
AUBURN, Ala. - If Kelli Murphy weren't playing golf for Auburn at this week's SEC Championship at Greystone in Birmingham, she would find another way to enjoy the great outdoors.
"I love being outside more than anything," Murphy said. "If I'm doing anything on an off day, my hobbies are biking, running, hiking. Anything to be outside, and golf is just an awesome opportunity to get out there and compete and enjoy the weather.
"Especially being in the South, it's so gorgeous all the time. To be with all of my teammates, and be competitive and do something I love every day is just a huge blessing."
Murphy and her Tiger teammates will compete in three rounds of stroke play, with the top eight teams advancing to match play on Saturday.
"I'm really excited," Murphy said. "We've had a really good spring and some top finishes. And we've beaten some high quality teams in the SEC.
"I'm super excited. I think we're highly competitive and can look forward to making it to the match play and being competitive and doing well in that."
A senior from Elgin, South Carolina, Murphy graduates this spring in communication, with a minor in marketing. Her dream job would involve marketing, promotions and management of professional golf tournaments.
She started golfing at age 5, accompanying her brothers to the course after their dad got off work.
"I played that and soccer," Murphy said. "I kept playing golf and it kind of stuck."
Murphy made an instant impact at Auburn, earning SEC All-Freshman honors in 2015. As a senior, she finished No. 12 in last month's Evans Derby Experience at Auburn University Club.
"Kelli is definitely a leader by example," Auburn coach Melissa Luellen said. "She always make great choices, works hard, never gives up and is tenacious. The girls admire her for that."
The SEC Championship will be Auburn's second in-state meet of the season.
"It almost feels like a home crowd sometimes," said Murphy, who will be competing at Greystone for the fourth consecutive year. "It's awesome. I think we have the best conference for golf in the nation."
After SECs, only two events remain. NCAA regionals May 7-9 and the NCAA Championship in Stillwater, Oklahoma May 18-23.
For Kelli Murphy, four years of competition and camaraderie will soon end, leaving a wealth of memories.
"I've loved every minute of it," she said. "I wouldn't pick any other place ever. If I could do it all over again, I'd be here every time. I love the small-town feel. The Auburn family here in Athletics truly makes you feel as if you are welcome and that we're all here and supportive of each other. That's the biggest thing.
"The courses we've gotten to play, the place we've gotten to go, have been absolutely incredible. There's nothing like being at Auburn."
"Get out there and show them what @AuburnWGolf can do."
🗣@k_murph38 @SEC women's golf ⛳️ championship tees off Wednesday at Greystone in Birmingham. Top 8 teams after three rounds advance to match play.
Practice 🏌️♀️ round today. pic.twitter.com/oFx1i0BFeY-- Jeff Shearer (@jeff_shearer) April 17, 2018
"We just can't wait to be back there."
🗣@k_murph38@AuburnWGolf departing for B'ham. @SEC Championship tees off Wednesday at Greystone. pic.twitter.com/JIdZOWmfJ2-- Jeff Shearer (@jeff_shearer) April 16, 2018
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @jeff_shearer