AUBURN, Ala. – The message Kaleigh Telfer delivered to her Auburn teammates last week before the third round of the NCAA Stillwater Regional was simple.
"I don't want this to be my or the other two seniors' last tournament. Let's go out and fight."
The top four teams advanced to the NCAA Championship, and Auburn began the day in sixth place, 11 shots back of the fourth-place team. It would take a historic performance from the Tigers to extend their season and extend the careers of the three seniors.
"It was pretty emotional, honestly," senior Mychael O'Berry said. "That morning my mom came over and hugged me and was crying, so I started crying. It was crazy to think that could have been the last time I ever played a competitive round of golf. I think we wanted it really bad. That's the thing about this team. We never count ourselves out."
Auburn started the day strong but barely made a dent in the deficit through the first nine holes. But it all changed on the back nine as birdies started to drop. It was contagious. Telfer saw Anna Foster make a couple birdies in front of her, so she followed suit. That momentum carried back to O'Berry who was playing behind Telfer.
The Tigers shot 11-under on the back nine and 12-under for the round to move up into a tie for third place, securing their fourth straight appearance at the NCAA Championship.
For Telfer, O'Berry and fellow senior Julie McCarthy, it was extra special because it meant they had one more tournament together. One more chance to win a national championship.
"The girls didn't want their season to end on that last day, and everyone dug a little bit deeper," McCarthy said. "I just think it shows how close we are as a team. Everyone is willing to put the fight in even if it is on the last day."
McCarthy wasn't in the lineup for Auburn in that third round, but she has been part of some special moments in her time on the Plains. From rallying to beat Texas in the NCAA quarterfinals in 2019 to winning the SEC Championship in 2021 to making up 11 shots on the final day of stroke play at last year's NCAA Championship, this trio of seniors has played a significant role in the program's return to prominence.
Telfer and O'Berry were first to arrive on campus in the summer of 2017 – Telfer from South Africa and O'Berry from Hoover, Alabama. McCarthy, a native of Ireland, joined them as a mid-year enrollee in January 2018.
"I think we all just clicked pretty much from the get-go, and we've been close ever since," Telfer said. "It was nice to come in with another freshman (O'Berry) so we could experience everything together. And then obviously Julie coming in, it was a lot easier because she was an international. So, I really bonded with her."
Over the course of five seasons, Telfer, O'Berry and McCarthy have combined for 31 top-10 finishes, five individual wins and 128 rounds at par or better. All three are currently ranked among Auburn's all-time top 10 in career scoring average.
Career Scoring Average (Min. 60 rounds)
3. Telfer (2017-present): 73.40
6. O'Berry (2017-present): 73.88
8. McCarthy (2018-present): 73.98
As a team, since the senior trio made their debut during the 2017-18 season, the Tigers have made the NCAA Championship every year and won the SEC Championship in 2021.
"I feel like the three of us have made a huge impact on the program," O'Berry said. "The year before we came in, they came in dead last at SECs. We have a great younger class, too, but I think the three of us have played a pretty big part in kind of just shifting the mindset.
"I think it starts with a really strong belief, and that's kind of what we've built upon. And seeing how we progress each year helps to know that we actually can win a national championship. I hope we get one this year, and then I hope that continues to carry on for years to come – that Auburn golf is a top program in the country."
When Auburn tees off Friday at Grayhawk Golf Course, all three players know this is it. There's no next tournament. When the NCAA Championship ends, they will all have played their final round of competitive golf for Auburn.
But the connection between the three goes beyond golf, and it will last for a lifetime – long after they leave Auburn.
"I think the legacy for all three of us would be if you put in the work, you'll get rewarded," McCarthy said. "But also, to have a good time and enjoy the whole experience of being in college and making the memories and being close as a team. To show that you can be friends off the golf course and then on the golf course."
Added O'Berry, "I wouldn't have wanted to do it with anybody else."