GREENSBORO, Ga. – A year after winning the Lake Oconee Invitational, Auburn's Kayley Marschke returned to the same event and posted another strong score this weekend. The junior shot a 222 (+6) over three rounds on Saturday and Sunday to finish in a tie for 9th overall.
"I was very proud of her, her composure," Auburn head coach Melissa Luellen said. "You could tell she was really working on trying to make good decisions and have a strong mental game out there. I really saw her work very hard on every single shot."
Marschke, one of three Auburn individuals competing in the tournament, started strong with a season-low 71 (-1) in the first round that included five birdies. It was her lowest round since the NCAA Regional in Austin last year. After a 78 (+6) in round two, the junior bounced back with three more birdies in the final round as she posted a 73 (+1).
After sitting out the last two tournaments of the fall season, Marschke is looking to regain her mojo this spring. And Luellen believes this weekend will only help that.
"I think this gives her confidence," Luellen said. "And I think that's what she's lacking as of late. So I think this will be a great thing to kind of boost her confidence and keep her encouraged to continue working hard. She's a junior. She understands that anything can happen. She just needs to keep working on her stuff and challenging her teammates because that's kind of our secret sauce – helping each other get better."
Freshmen Anika Bolcikova and Chandler Rosholt also made the trip and represented Auburn as individuals at the Lake Oconee Invitational this weekend.
Bolcikova finished in a tie for 54th with a three-round score of 235 (+19). And after a solid first day that included a 74 (+2) in the first round, Rosholt was forced to withdraw from the tournament on Sunday with a back injury.
The rest of the team is currently competing in New Orleans at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate. They are in 10th following Sunday's first round.
Auburn Individuals
T9. Kaleigh Telfer -- 71, 78, 73 (+6)
T54. Anika Bolcikova – 79, 78, 78 (+19)
N/A Chandler Rosholt – 74, W, W