SHOAL CREEK, Ala. – The No. 11 Auburn women's golf team started the 2019 spring season the same way it finished in the fall – by winning another trophy.
Fresh off a victory at the Battle at the Beach in November, the Tigers finished ahead of Alabama, Mississippi State and Ole Miss on Sunday to win the Shootout at Shoal Creek, a one-day quad match at the Shoal Creek Golf Course just outside Birmingham.
Led by freshman Brooke Sansom, the individual champion, Auburn shot a 3-under 285 on the par 72 course. Four of the five golfers in the lineup finished at even par or better.
"The Shootout at Shoal Creek was immensely successful for the Tigers," Auburn head coach Melissa Luellen said. "The weather was a little chilly, but the golf course is in great condition. I thought our practice round was really good yesterday, and our preparation – everybody seemed confident and ready to go.
"To shoot under par as a team on that caliber of a course is just fantastic."
Sansom finished her round with a 69 (-3) and was tied with Alabama junior Jiwon Jeon for first place after 18 holes. The two went into a sudden death playoff, and on the first hole, Sansom knocked in a 12-foot for birdie to win the title as Jeon's birdie putt just missed.
"To see Brooke in the playoff against the No. 8 ranked player from Alabama – she flipped the switch," Luellen said. "She was bound and determined to hit a great shot every shot she hit. She only hit three of them, and they were all pure. I'm really proud of the hard work she's put in, and it's nice to see it pay off."
Following Sansom was the trio of Elena Hualde Zúñiga, Julie McCarthy and Mychael O'Berry, who all finished in a tie for fifth Sunday after each one shot even par (72) for the round. McCarthy, the No. 33 player nationally coming in, made four birdies on the day while Zúñiga and O'Berry each knocked in three birdies apiece.
The fifth player in Auburn's lineup, freshman Chandler Rosholt, also had three birdies as she shot a 75 (+3) to finish in a tie for 13th.
Playing as an individual, junior Kayley Marschke made her first appearance since the Magnolia Invitational in October and carded a 76 (+4) to place in a tie for 15th. Freshman Anika Bolcíková also played as an individual for the Tigers on Sunday and finished with an 87.
The spring season rolls on as Auburn is set to take part in two tournaments next weekend. The team will compete in the Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate in New Orleans from Sunday to Tuesday. And then the Tigers will also send a handful of golfers to compete as individuals at the Lake Oconee Collegiate Championship in Georgia on Saturday and Sunday.
Team Standings
1. Auburn -- 285 (-3)
2. Ole Miss -- 291 (+3)
3. Mississippi State -- 297 (+9)
Auburn Individuals
1. Brooke Sansom -- 69 (-3)
T5. Elena Hualde Zúñiga -- 72 (E)
T5. Julie McCarthy -- 72 (E)
T5. Mychael O'Berry -- 72 (E)
T13. Chandler Rosholt -- 75 (+3)
T15. Kayley Marschke -- 76 (+4), ind.
23. Anika Bolcíková -- 87 (+15), ind.