AUBURN, Ala. – The goal was to get back to Grayhawk. Mission accomplished.
After making match play last year at the NCAA Championship, the Auburn women's golf team returns to Grayhawk Golf Course (Par 72; 6,384 yards) for the 2022 NCAA Championship with their sights set even higher. The Tigers advanced out of the Stillwater Regional and now, for the fourth straight year, they have a shot to win a national championship.
For Auburn, this will be the 20th appearance all-time at the NCAA Championships.
Four of the five players in Auburn's lineup this year played the course at NCAAs last year, giving this group an advantage going in that they didn't have a year ago.
"Playing the golf course last year, we learned quickly after the first round that we had to have some different strategies on the tees," Auburn head coach Melissa Luellen said. "We do not have to hit driver on every hole. In fact, there are many holes, you hit 3-wood or 5-wood because the rough is thick, and it's so penalizing to be in the rough."
After a slow start in the regional, the goal will be to start fast in Friday's opening round.
The top spot in Auburn's lineup goes to sophomore Anna Foster, who will be followed by seniors Mychael O'Berry and Kaleigh Telfer. Next is junior Megan Schofill, the SEC individual runner-up, and rounding out the lineup is sophomore Elina Sinz.
Schofill, O'Berry and Telfer all shot par or better in the fourth round of stroke play last year at Grayhawk, leading the team to a record round of 278 (-10).
The championship format consists of 24 teams and 12 individuals completing 54 holes of stroke play from Friday to Sunday. Following the first three rounds, the top 15 teams and the top nine individuals not on an advancing team will proceed to the final day of stroke play Monday to determine the top eight teams for match play competition.
The 24-team field for this year's event includes 18 teams ranked inside the top 20 per Golfstat. The Tigers, who come in ranked No. 19, will be paired with No. 15 Texas A&M and No. 20 Arkansas in the first round. The group will tee off at 8:30 a.m. CT.
Live scoring can be found on Golfstat.com, and the tournament will be broadcasted live on Golf Channel beginning Monday (see details below).
LINEUP
1. Anna Foster
2. Mychael O'Berry
3. Kaleigh Telfer
4. Megan Schofill
5. Elina Sinz
LAST TIME OUT
Auburn is riding a wave of momentum into Scottsdale after closing the NCAA Stillwater Regional with a 12-under 276 in the final round. It was the lowest round in program history at a regional, and it helped propel the Tigers into a tie for third place, punching their ticket to the NCAA Championships.
O'Berry, Telfer and Foster all finished in the top 10 individually. O'Berry and Telfer shot a 69 (-3) in the final round while Foster fired a 5-under 67 to wrap up her week.
GOLF CHANNEL SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES CT)
Monday, May 23 – 4 - 8 p.m. (Live final round, individual stroke play coverage)
Tuesday, May 24 – 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. (Live quarterfinals, match play coverage)
Tuesday, May 24 – 4 - 8 p.m. (Live semifinals, match play coverage)
Wednesday, May 25 – 4 - 8 p.m. (Live finals, match play coverage)
Tigers make 20th all-time appearance at NCAA Championship
