SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – After a come-from-behind victory to beat UCLA in the quarterfinals to start the day, the Auburn women's golf team saw its season come to an end at the NCAA Championship on Tuesday with a 3-2 loss to Stanford in the semifinals.
"I'm incredibly proud," Auburn head coach Melissa Luellen said. "They never quit fighting. We had some mistakes, some tired swings. It's such a long week with the heat and the wind in the afternoon. But what a group. Our seniors, we really appreciate how they've transformed this program. They will be missed."
It was seniors Kaleigh Telfer and Mychael O'Berry who secured the two wins needed to beat UCLA in the quarterfinals. Telfer made eagle on No. 7 to win her match, 3&2, and O'Berry followed in the anchor spot with a 2&1 victory to send the Tigers to the Final Four.
The duo has made match play in all three postseasons together with two appearances in the semifinals.
Junior Megan Schofill also won her match against UCLA and then came back in the semifinals and beat Stanford's Sadie Englemann, 4&3, to go 2-0 on the day. Schofill finished as the team's top finisher in stroke play, placing tied for 27th overall.
Against Stanford, sophomore Anna Foster won Hole 16 to take the lead on Rachel Heck before the match ended. As a result, she earned a 1-up victory for the Tigers.
Auburn is one of just three teams, along with Arizona and Duke, to make the semifinals in two of the last three NCAA Championships.
"It's so hard to get here," Luellen said. "But it's something that is doable for future teams. The girls that are returning, the experience that they'll gain will be able to help with the young ones. We'll be quite young next year, but we've got some really great talent. We'll debrief, and our eyes will be set on Grayhawk 2023."
As a national semifinalist, the Tigers earned an invitation to the 2022 East Lake Cup in November where they will be joined by Stanford, Oregon and Texas A&M.
Match Play Results - Semifinals
No. 1 Stanford def. No. 5 Auburn, 3-2-0
Brooke Seay (STAN) def. Kaleigh Telfer (AU), 1-UP
Megan Schofill (AU) vs. Sadie Englemann (STAN), 4&3
Aline Krauter (STAN) def. Elina Sinz (AU), 2&1
Anna Foster (AU) def. Rachel Heck (STAN), 1-UP
Rose Zhang (STAN) def. Mychael O'Berry, 5&4
Match Play Results - Quarterfinals
No. 5 Auburn def. No. 4 UCLA, 3-2-0
Emma Spitz (UCLA) def. Elina Sinz (AU), 4&3
Zoe Campos (UCLA) def. Anna Foster (AU), 1-UP
Megan Schofill (AU) def. Ty Akabane (UCLA), 2&1
Kaleigh Telfer (AU) vs. Alessia Nobilio (UCLA), 3&2
Mychael O'Berry (AU) def. Caroline Canales (UCLA), 2&1
