PALOS VERDES ESTATES, Calif. – Playing against a field that features eight teams ranked in the top 10, the Auburn women's golf team was not intimidated Sunday. The Tigers shot a 1-under 283 in the first round of the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge and currently hold a six-stroke advantage over the second-place team.
The first round is not complete, however, as three groups were unable to finish play before darkness set in at the Palos Verdes Golf Club (Par 71, 6,017 yards) because of a weather delay earlier in the day. Those groups will finish Monday morning before the second round begins.
"Solid start on a rainy, cold day," Auburn head coach Melissa Luellen said. "It felt more like Alabama instead of Southern California. We had a few hiccups on our back nine, but overall all five were solid.
"It was a fun round for Kaleigh Telfer as she really got on a roll. I'm proud of how they managed the rain delay. Kaleigh especially as she made five birdies after the two-hour rain delay. That's not easy to do as the wind was up and the temperatures were down."
Telfer sits atop the player leaderboard after shooting a career-low 66 (-5) on Sunday. The Auburn junior, who was recently invited to play in the Augusta National Women's Amateur, made a total of six birdies, including three straight on holes 2, 3 and 4.
Sophomore Brooke Sansom also finished the round under par with a 70 (-1). Sansom knocked in three birdies and made par on 14 holes. She's currently tied for fifth overall.
Junior Mychael O'Berry and senior Kayley Marschke are both in the top 30 after the first day. O'Berry, tied for 19th overall, fired a 73 (+2) with two birdies while Marschke finished one stroke back with a 3-over 74 and is in a tie for 29th among individuals.
Rounding out the Auburn contingent is freshman Megan Schofill who shot a 76 (+5).
As it stands, Auburn leads the field at 1-under par (283), followed by Kent State (289), Oregon (N/A), Duke (N/A), Texas (290), Wake Forest (N/A), UCLA (293), Arizona State (293), USC (296), Arizona (302, Washington (304), Vanderbilt (304), Florida (306), Ohio State (306) and Pepperdine (307).
Following the completion of the first round, tee times for round two are expected to start at 11 a.m. CT on Monday. Live stats can be found on Golfstat.com.
Team Standings
1. Auburn -- 283 (-1)
2. Kent State -- 289 (+5)
T3. Oregon -- N/A (+6)
T3. Duke -- N/A (+6)
T3. Texas -- 290 (+6)
6. Wake Forest -- N/A (+7)
T7. UCLA-- 293 (+9)
T7. Arizona State -- 293 (+9)
9. Stanford -- N/A (+10)
10. USC -- 296 (+12)
11. Arizona -- 302 (+18)
T12. Washington -- 303 (+20)
T12. Vanderbilt -- 304 (+20)
T14. Florida -- 306 (+22)
T14. Ohio State -- 306 (+22)
16. Pepperdine -- 307 (+23)
Auburn Individuals
1. Kaleigh Telfer -- 66 (-5)
T5. Brooke Sansom -- 70 (-1)
T19. Mychael O'Berry -- 73 (+2)
T29. Kayley Marschke -- 74 (+3)
T49. Megan Schofill -- 76 (+5)