Tigers take aim at Alexa Stirling Intercollegiate

ATLANTA – Playing in the Alexa Stirling Women's Intercollegiate Invitational at the Atlanta Athletic Club (par 72; 6,210 yards) this weekend, Auburn is hopeful for two things.
 
First, good weather. Auburn has yet to play 54 holes in the 2018-19 season as both of its first two tournaments have been cancelled after two rounds because of weather.
 
Second and more importantly, the Tigers wants to be in contention on Sunday's final round. They have played well at times early in the season, finishing in a tie for fourth at the Mason Rudolph Championship and sixth at the Magnolia Invitational, but the players believe this team is capable of more. They believe they're on the verge of breaking through.
 
"We're so close," sophomore Kaleigh Telfer said. "We've been talking about it for a while now. Our goal is always to get into the last group on the last day, and once we do that, I think we've got a huge chance of winning. This team is doing well. I think we're right there. We just need everything to fall into place."
 
Telfer, who has finished in the top 15 in each of the first two tournaments, will take over the top spot in Auburn's lineup. Behind her at the No. 2 spot is freshman Anika Bolcíková, who won the Magnolia Invitational earlier this month after shooting a 6-under 66 on the second day. It was Bolcíková's first tournament for Auburn after arriving from Slovakia in August. 

Following those two will be sophomore Julie McCarthy (No. 3), junior Elena Hualde Zúñiga (No. 4) and sophomore Mychael O'Berry (No. 5). Auburn is also sending freshmen Brooke Sansom and Chandler Rosholt to compete as individuals at the event. 
 
The Tigers will be paired with Georgia and Louisville for the first round and will tee off at 8:20 a.m. CT on Friday. Live scoring is available on Golfstat.com.
 
The field
 
The 11-team field for this year's Alexa Stirling Women's Intercollegiate includes Auburn, Coastal Carolina, Dartmouth, East Carolina, Georgia, Georgia State, Indiana, Kennesaw State, Louisville, Mercer and Virginia Tech.
 
Kennesaw State and Louisville tied for first place in last year's event.
 
A new No. 1
 
Coming off a strong freshman year in which she was Auburn's top finisher at the SEC Championship and NCAA Regional, Telfer continues to impress. The South Africa native has finished at even par or better the first two tournaments, and her second round 69 at the Magnolia Invitational was a new career-best.
 
"I've been working hard at practice here at home," Telfer said. "And then just going on the course and playing my own game, one shot at a time. We've been working a lot on our mental game, and I think now it's just clicked."
 
Telfer says she's "honored" to play in the top spot for the Tigers this weekend.
 
Auburn debut
 
Rosholt committed to Auburn in November 2015. On Friday, nearly three years later, she will make her collegiate debut and play in her first tournament for the Tigers.
 
"Putting on the Auburn uniform and being able to compete for Auburn is really cool," she said. "I've definitely been looking forward to this for like four years. It's finally here. I'm ready to start competing and playing for the team and contributing to our team."

Prior to Auburn, Rosholt qualified for the 2017 U.S. Girls Junior as the medalist in the Sugar Land, Texas qualifier. The Lone Star State native also has multiple top-five finishes in junior events across the state of Texas.