SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – The stakes were raised Sunday at the 2021 NCAA Championship, and the Auburn women's golf team once again delivered with their season on the line.
Through the first two rounds, Auburn was in 20th place. Following Sunday's third round, the top 15 made the cut to a fourth round of stroke play. On the outside looking in, the Tigers shot their best round of the weekend with a 288 (E) to jump six spots into 14th place. They were one of just six teams to shoot par or better on the day and are now +28 for the tournament.
"This team just has a belief that if they are in a hole, they are able to dig themselves out," head coach Melissa Luellen said. "Getting into the top 15 is huge and anything can happen tomorrow. They deserve to play and compete and are a great team. I'm so proud of them today."
Freshman Anna Foster paced Auburn on Sunday with a 2-under 70. Foster made back-to-back-to-back birdies on the front nine and then holed out from 154 yards on the par five 11th. She moved up 34 spots to 82nd overall where she's tied with teammate Kaleigh Telfer.
"We all know that Anna has this in her," Luellen said. "When she's determined, don't count her out."
Telfer also made a big jump Sunday with a round of 71 (-1) that included four straight birdies on the front nine and seven total birdies on the day. It was the senior's sixth round under par this season.
"It was great to see her (Telfer) make putts today," Luellen said. "Her first couple birdies really gave the confidence today and I'm so proud of her performance today."
Auburn's low individual through three rounds is senior Elena Hualde Zuniga who fired a 74 (+2) in the third round to move to 6-over for the tournament. She's currently in a tie for 50th on the player leaderboard heading into the fourth and final round of stroke play.
Megan Schofill and Mychael O'Berry are both in the top 70 after three rounds. Schofill carded a 76 (+4) on Sunday and is tied for 59th overall at 8 over while O'Berry, who is one shot back (+9), saved her best round for the third round with a 73 (+1) to move up to 70th overall.
Auburn will need to raise its level again Monday as the top eight teams through four rounds of stroke play will advance to match play and the quarterfinals. The Tigers will tee off at 10 a.m. local time and will be paired with UCLA and Baylor.
Live scoring throughout the tournament can be found on Golfstat.com. The final round of stroke play will also be broadcasted live Monday on Golf Channel from 1-5 p.m. CT.
Team Standings
1. Stanford – 846 (-18)
2. Duke – 866 (+2)
3. Oklahoma State – 868 (+4)
4. Texas – 870 (+6)
5. Ole Miss – 875 (+11)
6. Arizona State – 877 (+13)
7. Wake Forest – 880 (+16)
8. Florida State – 881 (+17)
9. Arizona – 882 (+18)
10. Oregon – 883 (+19)
11. LSU – 884 (+20)
12. South Carolina – 887 (+23)
13. Baylor – 890 (+26)
14. AUBURN – 892 (+28)
15. UCLA – 895 (+31)
16. Michigan State – 898 (+34)
17. Kent State – 899 (+35)
T18. Kentucky – 902 (+38)
T18. Georgia – 902 (+38)
20. Michigan – 903 (+39)
T21. Virginia Tech – 906 (+42)
T21. Maryland – 906 (+42)
23. USC – 907 (+43)
24. Alabama – 916 (+52)
Auburn Individuals
T50. Elena Hualde Zúñiga – 75, 73, 74 (+6)
T59. Megan Schofill – 74, 74, 76 (+8)
T70. Mychael O'Berry – 77, 75, 73 (+8)
T82. Anna Foster – 80, 77, 70 (+11)
T82. Kaleigh Telfer – 79, 77, 71 (+11)
Auburn moves up leaderboard Sunday at NCAA Championship
