AIKEN, S.C. – No. 5 Auburn women’s golf claimed the team championship at the Old Barnwell Derby Match Play on Tuesday at Old Barnwell Golf Club in Aiken, South Carolina. The Tigers defeated No. 11 Duke 3-2 in the championship match to earn their fifth team victory of the 2025-26 campaign, tying the program record for most in a season.
“Today was a total team win. Everyone stepped up and delivered when it mattered most,” Auburn head coach Melissa Luellen said. “Beating Duke 3-2 in tough, cold and windy conditions shows the kind of fight we have as a group. It was awesome to see two of our newcomers go a perfect 3-0 this week and make such a big impact. That’s our fifth win of the season, and we’re building something really special.”
The Tigers defeated Alabama 3-2 in the first round of the event on Sunday, then defeated No. 16 Mississippi State by the same score on Sunday afternoon to reach Tuesday’s championship match. Auburn has now won five events in a season for the fourth time in program history and for the first time since the 2005-06 season.
Freshman Charlotte Cantonis set the tone for the Tigers on Tuesday after winning both of her matches over Alabama and Mississippi State on Sunday. Cantonis won the first hole over Duke’s Katie Li with a birdie, then added wins on three of the next four holes to build a 5-up lead. She added another win with a birdie on No. 12 before closing out the match 6&5.
Duke’s Carla De Troia started her match against Auburn’s Carys Worby with a win on the first hole and later held a 1-up lead through five holes. Worby then posted wins on three of the next four holes to take a 2-up lead. Leading 4-up through 13 holes, Worby saw the lead cut to 2-up through 16, but secured the match with a win on No. 17 for a 3&1 victory.
Auburn sophomore Molly Brown Davidson posted three wins and no losses on the front nine to make the turn at 3-up over Duke’s Andie Smith. Leading 3-up through 11 holes, Smith fought back with back-to-back wins to cut the lead to 1-up. Both players birdied No. 14 to halve the hole, then Davidson carded an eagle on the par-5 15th to take a 2-up lead and ultimately won 2&1 for her third victory of the event. The win clinched the team championship for the Tigers.
Duke earned its two points from Anna Canado Espinal, who defeated Katie Cranston, and Rianne Malixi, who topped Anna Davis.
Up next, Auburn will travel to the Charles Schwab Women’s Collegiate Invitational at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. The 54-hole stroke-play event will be held March 23-24.
#5 Auburn 3, #11 Duke 2
- Carys Worby (AUB) def. Carla De Troia (DUKE) 3&1
- Anna Canado Espinal (DUKE) def. Katie Cranston (AUB) 2UP
- Charlotte Cantonis (AUB) def. Katie Li (DUKE) 6&5
- Rianne Malixi (DUKE) def. Anna Davis (AUB) 1UP
- Molly Brown Davidson (AUB) def. Andie Smith (DUKE) 2&1