April 21, 2018
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ââ'¬" A tough fight came down to the final holes, but the 20th-ranked Auburn women's golf team dropped a 3-2 match play decision to Georgia Saturday morning in the quarterfinal round of the 2018 SEC Championship.
In their first match play action of the season, the Tigers got a win from freshman Julie McCarthy, and senior Kelli Murphy was 2 up with 2 to play when the match was clinched.
"I thought they fought hard," Auburn head coach Melissa Luellen said. "We got down, we lost some holes to pars. In match play, if you lose holes, lose to birdies. You just can't lose to pars and expect to win. Overall, we had a chance to the very end. We just couldn't quite close one out or flip one. But I'm really proud of them. We're disappointed, but it's been a great learning week."
Georgia got the first point when UGA's Jillian Hollis closed out her match against Kayley Marschke, 6 & 5. But Auburn answered to tie the score when McCarthy earned a 2 & 1 win over UGA's Gaby Coello; she never trailed in the match.
Kaleigh Telfer was able to extend her match with UGA's Rinko Mitsunaga with a birdie at the 16th hole, but both players made par at the 17th to give Mitsunaga a 2 & 1 win. Michaela Owen, 3 down with 3 to play, was also able to extend her match with a birdie at the 16th hole. But UGA's Paula Neira Garcia won the 17th hole to clinch a 3 & 1 win and the third and deciding point for Georgia.
Kelli Murphy led her match 2 up with 2 to play when the team match was halted. She won the first hole of the day and never trailed.
Auburn will now await its postseason destination. The NCAA Women's Golf selection announcement is set for Wednesday, April 25, at 4:30 p.m. CT and will be televised live on Golf Channel.
For the latest on Auburn women's golf, follow @AuburnWGolf on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
2018 SEC Championship Quarterfinals ââ'¬" Match Play
(4) Georgia 3, (5) Auburn 2
Julie McCarthy (AU) def. Gaby Coello (UGA), 2 & 1
Rinko Mitsunaga (UGA) def. Kaleigh Telfer (AU), 2 & 1
Paula Neira Garcia (UGA) def. Michaela Owen (AU), 3 & 1
Kelli Murphy (AU) vs. Isabella Skinner (UGA), 2 up thru 16*
Jillian Hollis (UGA) def. Kayley Marschke (AU), 6 & 5
*match unfinished