FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – It took two days because of weather, but the Auburn women's golf team wrapped up round two at the NCAA Women's Golf Championship on Sunday at 3 over, and now the Tigers head to Monday's third round squarely in the mix in a tie for ninth place at 24 over par.
All 24 teams in the field will play the third round at Blessings Golf Club, and then it will be the top eight teams that move on to match play beginning Tuesday.
"We certainly haven't shot ourselves out of it," Auburn head coach Melissa Luellen said. "Had we finished better today, we would've been in a better position, but the last day a lot of things happen. There's pressure, and everyone feels it. We just have to be ready for the storms. It's not always going to be perfect, but I think our team will be ready to take on the challenge."
"It's almost like regionals again last week," added sophomore Kaleigh Telfer. "On the border and hopefully we can go out and play our game again and try to get into that top eight."
Telfer is currently tied for 13th on the player leaderboard at 2 over through the first two rounds. The sophomore, who is leading the way for Auburn, shot a 72 (-1) in the second round with a total of five birdies – four on Saturday and one Sunday.
"I think honestly the key to this golf course is just hit the fairway," Telfer said. "Once you've hit the fairway, you've got an opportunity to hit the green. I was hitting a lot of greens yesterday – I think I missed two or three – and some of the putts just dropped."
Fellow sophomore Julie McCarthy also made five birdies over the last two days as she finished the second round with a 73 (E). McCarthy is tied for 23rd overall at 5 over par.
Sophomore Mychael O'Berry and junior Elena Hualde Zúñiga both moved up the individual rankings and are in a tie for 79th overall after each golfer carded a lower score in the second round. O'Berry shot a 74 (+1) with two birdies while Hualde Zúñiga finished with a 76 (+3). Freshman Brooke Sansom, who turned in an 80 (+7) in round two, is one shot back of her teammates at 12 over where she is tied for 87th.
At 2 over par (586), Duke currently holds a nine-shot lead over second place. The rest of the top five includes USC (595), Texas (596), Arizona (598) and Arkansas (598).
After morning tee times the past two days, Auburn will be among the last teams to tee off Monday at 1:01 p.m. CT. The Tigers, playing with Northwestern and Purdue, will start from the 10th hole. Live scoring can be found on Golfstat.com, and Golf Channel will also be airing the round live from 3 to 7 p.m. CT.
Team Standings
1. Duke -- 586 (+2)
2. USC -- 595 (+11)
3. Texas -- 596 (+12)
T4. Arizona -- 598 (+14)
T4. Arkansas -- 598 (+14)
6. Stanford -- 604 (+20)
7. Purdue -- 606 (+22)
8. Northwestern -- 607 (+23)
T9. Auburn -- 608 (+24)
T9. Wake Forest -- 608 (+24)
11. Ole Miss -- 611 (+27)
12. Arizona State -- 612 (+28)
13. Florida -- 615 (+31)
14. Illinois -- 616 (+32)
15. Florida State -- 619 (+35)
16. Virginia -- 621 (+37)
17. Washington -- 622 (+38)
18. UCLA -- 623 (+39)
19. San Jose State -- 626 (+42)
20. UCF -- 630 (+46)
21. Kent State -- 633 (+49)
22. Vanderbilt -- 635 (+51)
23. Indiana -- 636 (+52)
24. Tennessee -- 638 (+54)
Auburn Individuals
T13. Kaleigh Telfer -- 76, 72 (+2)
T23. Julie McCarthy -- 78, 73 (+5)
T79. Mychael O'Berry -- 83, 74 (+11)
T79. Elena Hualde Zúñiga – 81, 76 (+11)
T87. Brooke Sansom – 78, 80 (+12)