HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – For the second straight year, the Auburn women's golf team climbed the leaderboard on the final day at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate.
This year, the 11th-ranked Tigers shot a 296 (+12) in Sunday's third round and moved up three spots to finish in a tie for fifth overall in a field that included five teams ranked in the top 10 and 12 teams in the top 25.
Sophomore Mychael O'Berry paced Auburn for the third straight day, shooting a 70 (-1) on Sunday – her best round of the weekend. O'Berry finished at even par for the event and also tied for fifth on the player leaderboard. It was her second top-five finish of the spring and the third of the season as she placed fourth at the Alexa Stirling Women's Intercollegiate Invitational in the fall.
O'Berry, along with teammates Julie McCarthy and Brooke Sansom, all finished in the top 30 overall at this weekend's tournament played at Long Cove Club (Par 71, 6,266 yards).
"I am so proud of Mychael, Brooke and Julie for staying tough while their teammates were struggling," Auburn head coach Melissa Luellen said. "It's so great to that each week new people step up.
"Mychael has been hitting the ball really well. Coach (Andrew) Pratt and I both predicted she would have a good week. She is the most improved player from one year to the next that I have ever coached. Her desire to be good is really strong."
McCarthy wrapped up the tournament in a tie for 16th after shooting a 73 (+2) in the third round The sophomore, who was 5 over for the weekend, was second among all players with a total of 45 pars made. Sansom tied for 30th overall after carding a 75 (+4) on the final day.
Florida State won the event with a 2-over 850, followed by South Carolina (867), Wake Forest (867), Duke (869), Auburn (882), Vanderbilt (882), Arkansas (886), Furman (887), UCLA (887), Virginia (888), Georgia (889), Northwestern (891), LSU (894), Alabama (899), Baylor (901), Oklahoma State (909) and North Carolina (911).
After a weekend off, Auburn will host the Evans Derby Experience from March 23-25. The event will take place at the Saugahatchee Country Club.
Team Standings
1. Florida State -- 850 (-2)
2. South Carolina -- 867 (+15)
3. Wake Forest -- 867 (+15)
4. Duke -- 869 (+17)
T5. Auburn -- 882 (+30)
T5. Vanderbilt -- 882 (+30)
7. Arkansas -- 886 (+34)
T8. Furman -- 887 (+35)
T8. UCLA -- 887 (+35)
10. Virginia -- 888 (+36)
11. Georgia -- 889 (+37)
12. Northwestern -- 891 (+39)
13. LSU -- 894 (+42)
14. Alabama -- 899 (+47)
15. Baylor -- 901 (+49)
16. Oklahoma State -- 909 (+57)
17. North Carolina -- 911 (+59)
Auburn Individuals
T5. Mychael O'Berry – 72, 71, 70 (E)
T16. Julie McCarthy – 72, 73, 73 (+5)
T30. Brooke Sansom – 74, 72, 75 (+8)
T62. Elena Hualde Zúñiga – 76, 76, 78 (+17)
T77. Kaleigh Telfer – 76, 77, 80 (+20)