SAN JOSE DEL CABO, Mexico – Auburn picked up right where it left off last weekend shooting a 3-over 287 in Friday's opening round at Club Campestre (par 71; 6,202 yards), and the 22nd-ranked Tigers currently lead the 17-team field at the Battle at the Beach.
"It was really a great start to the tournament," Auburn head coach Melissa Luellen said. "Kaleigh Telfer finishes birdie-birdie-birdie on her last three holes. She just kind of has a knack right now and the confidence that she can overcome some bogeys. She just played super solid.
"It was quite windy. The hole locations were tough. It's a tough golf course. So I was really proud of them."
Telfer's three birdies on the final three holes pushed her into the overall lead on the player leaderboard as well. The sophomore shot a 2-under 69 on Friday and has now shot par or better in five of her eight rounds this season. She finished third overall at the Alexa Stirling Intercollegiate last weekend and has finished top 20 in all three tournaments this fall.
Fellow sophomore Mychael O'Berry also continued her strong play from last weekend with a 71 (E) in Friday's first round. She made a pair of birdies on the day and is tied for fourth overall.
Junior Elena Hualde Zúñiga began the round with three birdies on the first seven holes and turned in a score of 73 (+2) to put her in a tie for 12th. She was followed by freshman Brooke Sansom, who finished one shot behind at 3-over, and McCarthy, who shot a 4-over 74. Sansom is currently tied for 25th overall, and McCarthy is tied for 31st.
Freshman Anika Bolcíková, who is playing as an individual, rounded out the Auburn contingent with a round of 78 (+7) that included one birdie. She's in a tie for 56th on the leaderboard.
The Tigers, who made 16 birdies Friday, lead the field at three-over par (287), followed by Texas (292), Mississippi State (294), TCU (298), Tulane (298), Vanderbilt (298), Virginia (298), Oklahoma (299), Missouri (302), Baylor (304) Houston (304), Clemson (307), Iowa (308), Denver (309), New Mexico (313), Tulsa (313) and UAB (322).
Auburn will be paired with Mississippi State, Texas and Vanderbilt for the second round, which will tee off at 10:30 a.m. CT. Live scoring can be found on BirdieFire.com.
Team Standings
1. Auburn -- 287 (+3)
2. Texas -- 292 (+8)
3. Mississippi State -- 294 (+10)
T4. TCU -- 298 (+11)
T4. Tulane -- 298 (+2)
T4. Vanderbilt -- 298 (+14)
T4. Virginia -- 298 (+14)
8. Oklahoma -- 299 (+15)
9. Missouri -- 302 (+18)
T10. Baylor -- 304 (+20)
T10. Houston -- 304 (+20)
12. Clemson -- 307 (+23)
13. Iowa -- 308 (+24)
14. Denver -- 309 (+25)
T15. New Mexico -- 313 (+29)
T15. Tulsa -- 313 (+29)
17. UAB -- 322 (+38)
Auburn Individuals
1. Kaleigh Telfer -- 69 (-2)
T4. Mychael O'Berry -- 71 (E)
T12. Elena Hualde Zúñiga -- 73 (+2)
T25. Brooke Sansom -- 74 (+3)
T31. Julie McCarthy -- 75 (+4)
T56. Anika Bolcíková -- 78 (+7), ind.
No. 22 Tigers take first-round lead in Battle at the Beach
