Auburn University’s women’s golf team advanced to second place after posting the best round of any team on May 12 at the NCAA Simpsonville Regional, held at the University of Louisville Golf Club in Simpsonville, Kentucky. Junior Anna Davis led Auburn with a 7-under-par 65, tying for the individual lead.
The result puts Auburn in a strong position heading into the final day of regional play. The top five teams from each regional site will qualify for the NCAA Championship at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California, scheduled for May 22-27.
Head coach Melissa Luellen said after Tuesday’s round, “Birdies, birdies, birdies, 26 of them. What impressed me the most wasn’t just the number, it was the response after a slow start. Molly (Brown Davidson) stayed patient after being 3-over through six and completely turned her day around. Anna (Davis) looked fearless and seemed to give herself birdie opportunities on every hole. Charlotte (Cantonis) and Carys (Worby) both delivered steady, solid rounds when we needed them.” Luellen added: “Before we left for this tournament, we said our goal was to win. Tomorrow, we have the opportunity to finish what we came here to do.”
After starting on hole ten, Davis finished her round with four consecutive birdies before adding three more later in her round. Her score moved her into a tie with Sheridan Clancy of Indiana; both are nine under par through two rounds.
The Tigers finished their second round at 15-under-par for a two-day total of 17-under-par (559), trailing Houston by two shots and leading third-place Iowa State by four strokes. The team has made more birdies than any other squad so far—45 over two rounds—and ranks second among all teams in par-4 and par-5 scoring.
Other notable performances included sophomore Molly Brown Davidson who rebounded from an early deficit to shoot three under par; Carys Worby improved by six shots compared to her first-round score; and freshman Charlotte Cantonis carded another subpar round highlighted by five birdies over six holes.
Auburn will begin Wednesday’s final regional round off tee one at 7 a.m., aiming for one of five qualifying spots that advance teams and top individuals not already qualified onto nationals.
