HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – Saving its best round for the last day, the Auburn women's golf team shot a 289 (+5) in Sunday's final round to climb two spots and finish second overall at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate.
"Despite weak starts, the team dug in to finish strong and move into second place against a strong field," Auburn head coach Melissa Luellen said. "I hope these ladies know they are part of the best teams in the country."
The Tigers, ranked No. 19 nationally per Golfstat, were one of 12 teams at the tournament ranked in the Top 25, and six of the teams they finished ahead of are currently in the top 15.
Individually, Auburn freshman Megan Schofill earned her third top-five finish of the season as she tied for third on the player leaderboard at 1 over, two shots back of the winner. Schofill fired a 71 (E) on Sunday, her second round at even par of the weekend. She made a total of nine birdies for the tournament and led all players, shooting -2 on the Par 3 holes.
"Another strong week of play by Megan," Luellen said. "Her ball striking was superb, hitting 17 greens today."
The low round of the day for the Tigers on Sunday came from junior Kaleigh Telfer who shot a 70 (-1) and moved up 15 spots into a tie for seventh. It's the third top-10 finish of the season for Telfer and the eighth of her Auburn career.
Senior Elena Hualde Zúñiga also jumped up the leaderboard Sunday with a season-low 72 (+1) to cap the weekend. Hualde Zúñiga, who made a pair of birdies, tied for 37th overall.
Juniors Julie McCarthy and Mychael O'Berry finished 53rd and 56th respectively.
Wake Forest won the tournament at 3-over par (855), followed by Auburn (881), Duke (884), UCLA (885), Texas (888), North Carolina (891), South Carolina (893), Baylor (894), Arkansas (896), LSU (897), Florida State (901), Vanderbilt (906), Alabama (907), Furman (913), Georgia (913), Northwestern (916) and Virginia (919).
It will now be a quick turnaround for the Tigers who will be back on the course next weekend for the Valspar Augusta Invitational at Forest Hills Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. The two-day tournament begins Saturday.
Team Standings
1. Wake Forest – 855 (+3)
2. Auburn – 881 (+29)
3. Duke – 884 (+32)
4. UCLA – 885 (+33)
5. Texas – 888 (+36)
6. North Carolina – 891 (+39)
7. South Carolina – 893 (+41)
8. Baylor – 894 (+42)
9. Arkansas – 896 (+44)
10. LSU – 897 (+45)
11. Florida State – 901 (+49)
12. Vanderbilt – 906 (+54)
13. Alabama – 907 (+55)
T14. Furman – 913 (+61)
T14. Georgia – 913 (+61)
16. Northwestern – 916 (+64)
17. Virginia – 919 (+67)
Auburn Individuals
T3. Megan Schofill – 71, 72, 71 (+1)
T7. Kaleigh Telfer – 73, 75, 70 (+5)
T37. Elena Hualde Zúñiga – 74, 79, 72 (+12)
T53. Julie McCarthy –76, 74, 79 (+16)
T56. Mychael O'Berry – 77, 77. 76 (+17)