April 19, 2018
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ââ'¬" Led by an even-par 72 from freshman Kaleigh Telfer, Auburn held steady in the second round of the 2018 SEC Women's Golf Championship on Thursday.
As the winds picked up in the afternoon, scores went higher as well. The Tigers were no exception, seeing a 2-over-par front nine turn into a 13-over day. The good news, though ââ'¬" Auburn wasn't alone. As such, the Tigers tied for the fourth-best round of the day and remained in seventh place, six shots ahead of ninth and the all-important cutoff for the weekend's match play.
"This is a hard golf course," Auburn head coach Melissa Luellen said. "There's a lot of value in hitting greens and making good choices. We'll be a great match play team if we can hold it together and get there, but we're doing everything we can to make it exciting. Fortunately we've got one day left to go out and play some solid golf."
Telfer's round of 72 was one of the best of the day, moving her into the top 10 at 3-over for the week.
"She's been working hard, working on the right things," Luellen said. "Coach Pratt's been helping her a lot. She's very coachable, very talented. She's got some confidence in her putting, which makes a huge difference on these greens and in these conditions."
Telfer was bogey-free on her front nine, making the turn at 1-under after a birdie at the seventh hole. She was still 1-under after 15 holes, but made back-to-back bogeys at the 16th and 17th to move back over par. But a birdie at the closing hole with a large Auburn contingent cheering her on gave the South Africa native her fifth round of even par or better this season.
"It was good," Telfer said of her round. "I just tried to keep it in play, and the birdies dropped. I was just trying to par the first few holes and get it going from there."
Senior Kelli Murphy and freshman Julie McCarthy both posted rounds of 76 (+4). McCarthy rebounded from a triple-bogey on the first hole to play the rest of the round at just 1-over. Murphy recorded one birdie and avoided the big number to move into a tie for 27th place at 8-over for the week; McCarthy is tied for 38th at 11-over. Sophomore Kayley Marschke had Auburn's fourth counting score with a 77 (+5); she is tied for 32nd at 9-over for the week.
With the top eight teams after Friday advancing to match play, Auburn will likely face a fight from several teams lurking just behind. Kentucky is in the eighth and final spot at +34, three shots back of the Tigers, with Missouri (+36), Mississippi State (+37) and Tennessee (+38) right on their heels. South Carolina will have the lead headed into Friday's third round at 6-over; the Gamecocks' Ainhoa Olarra is the individual leader at 5-under; she is one of just three players under par for the week.
Auburn will once again begin play on the first tee at 8 a.m. CT Friday, paired with Kentucky and Missouri for the final round of stroke play. Live scoring is available at golfstat.com, and fans can follow @AuburnWGolf on Twitter and Instagram for updates.
Second-round results from the 2018 SEC Championship at Greystone Golf & Country Club ââ'¬" Legacy Course (par 72, 6,253 yards) in Birmingham, Ala.:
Team Standings
1. South Carolina ââ'¬" 582 (+6)
2. Alabama ââ'¬" 590 (+14)
3. Arkansas ââ'¬" 592 (+16)
4. Georgia ââ'¬" 596 (+20)
5. Florida ââ'¬" 599 (+23)
6. Vanderbilt ââ'¬" 602 (+26)
7. Auburn ââ'¬" 607 (+31)
8. Kentucky ââ'¬" 610 (+34)
9. Missouri ââ'¬" 612 (+36)
10. Mississippi State ââ'¬" 613 (+37)
11. Tennessee ââ'¬" 614 (+38)
12. Ole Miss ââ'¬" 621 (+45)
13. LSU ââ'¬" 624 (+48)
14. Texas A&M ââ'¬" 627 (+51)
Auburn Individuals
T10. Kaleigh Telfer ââ'¬" 75-72=147 (+3)
T27. Kelli Murphy ââ'¬" 76-76=152 (+8)
T32. Kayley Marschke ââ'¬" 76-77=153 (+9)
T38. Julie McCarthy ââ'¬" 79-76=155 (+11)
T53. Michaela Owen ââ'¬" 80-78=158 (+14)