FRANKLIN, Tenn. – No. 9 Auburn finished runner-up in its first event of the 2023-24 season at the Mason Rudolph Championship on Sunday. The Tigers posted a three-round total of 843 (-21) which was highlighted by a 14-under (274) opening round that tied the second lowest team round in program history. The Tigers finished three strokes behind tournament champion Vanderbilt.
"Proud of our team for having an opportunity to win the tournament," said Auburn head coach Melissa Luellen. "Disappointing to leave a few out there coming in, but overall a great event in a very strong field. We had three players in the top-15, including a fourth place finish for Megan and a runner-up finish for Casey. It was a really solid way to start our season."
Redshirt sophomore Casey Weidenfeld set the pace for the team on Sunday, posting a bogey-free 5-under 67 in the final round. Her three-day score of 206 (-10) landed her in a tie for runner-up individual honors and her best career finish. Weidenfeld earned the top spot in the field for par-4 scoring at 7-under and was top-5 in total birdies with 15.
"I'm really happy with my performance this week," Weidenfeld said after the final round. "I didn't have any birdies in last year's event, so my goal was to get revenge on this course. I birdied my first hole on Friday, which gave me a lot of momentum. Super proud of our team and the fight we showed. We're just getting started!"
Megan Schofill led the 96-player field in birdies, recording 18 on the way to her 11th career top-5 finish. Schofill carded seven birdies in Sunday's final round of 70 (-2) which capped off an 8-under 208 over three rounds for a fourth-place finish individually. Schofill was 9-under in par-5 scoring for the tournament, which was tied for second best in the field.
Ami Gianchandani finished in a tie for 12th place at 5-under for the event (211). The Watchung, New Jersey native's first tournament with the Tigers was highlighted by an opening round 8-under 64 on Friday. She followed with rounds of 72 (E), 71 (-1) and 75 (+3) to earn the top-15 finish.
Katie Cranston gave the Tigers a counting score on all three days of the event, posting scores of 73 (+1), 70 (-2) and 75 (+3) for a tie for 41st place finish on the individual leaderboard.
Sunday's team finish marks the fifth consecutive top-5 at the Mason Rudolph Championship as well as the highest ever team finish at the event.
Up next on the schedule for Auburn will be the Windy City Classic in Highland Park, Illinois. The event will be held October 2-3 at Exmoor Country Club.
Auburn individuals:
| Placement | Player | Round 1 Score | Round 2 Score | Final Round Score | Total Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T2 | Casey Weidenfeld | 71 (-1) | 68 (-4) | 67 (-5) | 206 (-10) |
| 4 | Megan Schofill | 66 (-6) | 72 (E) | 70 (-2) | 208 (-8) |
| T12 | Ami Gianchandani | 64 (-8) | 72 (E) | 75 (+3) | 211 (-5) |
| T41 | Katie Cranston | 73 (+1) | 70 (-2) | 75 (+3) | 218 (+2) |
| T89 | Carys Worby | 80 (+8) | 75 (+3) | 80 (+8) | 235 (+19) |
Team leaderboard:
| Placement | Team | Round 1 Score | Round 2 Score | Final Round Score | Total Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vanderbilt | 280 (-8) | 278 (-10) | 282 (-6) | 840 (-24) |
| 2 | Auburn | 274 (-14) | 282 (-6) | 287 (-1) | 843 (-21) |
| 3 | South Carolina | 281 (-7) | 285 (-3) | 282 (-6) | 848 (-16) |
| 4 | Arizona State | 277 (-11) | 289 (+1) | 285 (-3) | 851 (-13) |
| 5 | Ole Miss | 282 (-6) | 279 (-9) | 292 (+4) | 853 (-11) |
| 6 | North Carolina | 282 (-6) | 283 (-5) | 289 (+1) | 854 (-10) |
| 7 | LSU | 286 (-2) | 279 (-9) | 290 (+2) | 855 (-9) |
| 8 | UCLA | 295 (+7) | 290 (+2) | 273 (-15) | 858 (-6) |
| 9 | Arizona | 283 (-5) | 290 (+2) | 294 (+6) | 867 (+3) |
| 10 | Louisville | 293 (+5) | 283 (-5) | 293 (+5) | 869 (+5) |
| 11 | Kentucky | 288 (E) | 287 (-1) | 295 (+7) | 870 (+6) |
| 12 | Alabama | 295 (+7) | 286 (-2) | 290 (+2) | 871 (+7) |
| 13 | Denver | 289 (+1) | 298 (+10) | 290 (+2) | 877 (+13) |
| 14 | Baylor | 300 (+12) | 300 (+12) | 291 (+3) | 891 (+27) |
| 15 | Chattanooga | 295 (+7) | 297 (+9) | 300 (+12) | 892 (+28) |
| 16 | Middle Tennessee | 294 (+6) | 310 (+22) | 296 (+8) | 900 (+36) |
| 17 | Charleston | 298 (+10) | 307 (+19) | 305 (+17) | 910 (+46) |
| 18 | Florida Atlantic | 305 (+17) | 320 (+32) | 300 (+12) | 925 (+61) |