SUNSET, S.C. – Led by Julie McCarthy, the No. 14 Auburn women's golf put together their best round of the season on Sunday with a 278 (-10) in the first round of the Clemson Invitational. The Tigers currently have a share of the lead with Vanderbilt.
McCarthy is alone atop the individual leaderboard after shooting a career-low 66 (-6) in the first round. The sophomore made seven birdies on the day with just one bogey.
As a team, Auburn led the field with 20 birdies on the first day.
"Anytime a team makes twice as many birdies as bogies, that is a good thing," Auburn head coach Melissa Luellen said. "There is a lot of rain in the forecast, so I emphasized a fast start in case the tournament gets shortened by rain. I guess the girls listened.
"Julie has played solid in the past couple of tournaments, but hasn't hit many putts. She and Coach (Andrew) Pratt found a new focus for her, and she filled the cup today."
Junior Elena Hualde Zúñiga and sophomore Mychael O'Berry also turned in rounds under par to open the tournament, and the duo is currently tied for 12th overall after each shot a 70 (-2).
Rounding out the Auburn contingent were freshmen Brooke Sansom and Chandler Rosholt. Sansom is tied for 25th after carding a round of 72 (E) that included three birdies. And Rosholt, playing her first tournament in the team lineup, shot a 74 (+2) to finish the day in a tie for 56th.
Following the two leaders, Auburn and Vanderbilt, is Illinois at 5 under (283) and then it's Virginia Tech (285), Clemson (286), Purdue (286), Florida State (287), LSU (287), Texas A&M (288), Kentucky (291), Michigan State (291), Tennessee (292), Virginia (292), Augusta (293), Tulane (293), Indiana (294), UNC Wilmington (295) and Kansas (303).
The entire field will tee off Monday's second round at 7:30 a.m. CT. Auburn will be in the top group with Vanderbilt, Illinois and Virginia Tech. Live scoring can be found on Golfstat.com.
Team Standings
T1. Auburn -- 278 (-10)
T1. Vanderbilt -- 278 (-10)
3. Illinois -- 283 (-5)
4. Virginia Tech -- 285 (-3)
T5. Clemson -- 286 (-2)
T5. Purdue -- 286 (-2)
T7. Florida State -- 287 (-1)
T7. LSU -- 287 (-1)
9. Texas A&M -- 288 (E)
T10. Kentucky -- 291 (+3)
T10. Michigan State -- 291 (+3)
T12. Tennessee -- 292 (+4)
T12. Virginia -- 292 (+4)
T14. Augusta -- 293 (+5)
T14. Tulane -- 293 (+5)
16. Indiana -- 294 (+6)
17. UNC Wilmington -- 295 (+7)
18. Kansas -- 303 (+15)
Auburn Individuals
1. Julie McCarthy -- 66 (-6)
T12. Elena Hualde Zúñiga -- 70 (-2)
T12. Mychael O'Berry -- 70 (-2)
T25. Brooke Sansom -- 72 (E)
T56. Chandler Rosholt -- 74 (+2)