WEST POINT, Miss. – Nerves? Not for Anika Bolcíková (above) and Brooke Sansom. The two freshmen, who were playing their first round of competitive golf for Auburn, both put up a low score Sunday in the first round of the Magnolia Invitational.
As a team, the Tigers shot 295 (+6) and are currently tied for sixth place in the 14-team field at Old Waverly Golf Club (par 72, 6,320 yards).
Bolcíková, who is playing as an individual at the tournament, shot a team-best 71 (-1) and is currently tied for sixth on the overall player leaderboard. The native of Slovakia birdied two of the four par 5 holes on the course and finished with a team-high five birdies for the day.
Sansom started fast with back-to-back birdies on the first two holes. She added another birdie on the sixth hole and finished with a 1-over 73 for the round. She's tied for 20th overall.
"You never know what you are going to get in day one of a college tournament for a freshman," Auburn head coach Melissa Luellen said. "This is a day they have anticipated for a long time, and I know there were some nerves in the first tee. Brooke started hot with birdies on the first two holes, and Anika played very well and was pleased with her start. It will be fun to watch these two mature."
Sophomore Mychael O'Berry, also competing as an individual, matched Bolcíková with five birdies in the first round and finished one shot back at 72 (E). O'Berry, who is tied for 12th overall, was two strokes off her career-low round that she shot last year.
Fellow sophomore Julie McCarthy joined Sansom in a tie for 20th as she, too, shot a 73 (+1) to open the tournament. Following closely behind the two were junior Elena Hualde Zúñiga (+2) and sophomore Kaleigh Telfer (+3), who came into the clubhouse in a tie for 24th and 33rd respectively.
Junior Kayley Marschke rounded out the Auburn contingent with a round of 80 (+8). She is currently tied for 64th overall.
Kennesaw State and Mississippi State lead the field at even par (288), followed by Oklahoma (289), Ole Miss (289), LSU (290), Auburn (295), Memphis (299), Southern Mississippi (300), Mississippi State B (300), Coastal Carolina (306), Kansas State (306), East Tennessee State (308), Middle Tennessee (308) and Virginia Tech (308).
Auburn is paired with LSU and Oklahoma for the second round, beginning off the first tee at 8:50 a.m. CT. Live scoring can be found on Golfstat.com.
Team Standings
T1. Kennesaw State -- 288 (E)
T1. Mississippi State -- 288 (E)
T3. Oklahoma -- 289 (+1)
T3. Ole Miss -- 289 (+1)
5. LSU -- 290 (+2)
6. Auburn -- 295 (+7)
7. Memphis -- 299 (+11)
8. Southern Mississippi -- 300 (+12)
9. Mississippi State (B) -- 301 (+13)
T10. Coastal Carolina -- 306 (+18)
T10. Kansas State -- 306 (+18)
T12. East Tennessee State -- 308 (+20)
T12. Middle Tennessee -- 308 (+20)
T12. Virginia Tech -- 308 (+20)
Auburn Individuals
T6. Anika Bolcíková -- 71 (-1), ind.
T12. Mychael O'Berry -- 72 (E), ind.
T20. Brooke Sansom -- 73 (+1)
T20. Julie McCarthy -- 73 (+1)
T24. Elena Hualde Zúñiga -- 74 (+2)
T33. Kaleigh Telfer -- 75 (+3)
T64. Kayley Marschke -- 80 (+8)
Freshmen pace Auburn in first round of Magnolia Invitational
