Sept. 16, 2017
Mason Rudolph Second Round Results
FRANKLIN, Tenn. – Sophomore Abbey Carlson holds the individual lead and the Commodores remain in contention for the team title entering the third and final round of the Mason Rudolph Women’s Championship on Sunday.
Carlson followed a career-best 66 on Friday with an efficient three-under par 69 Saturday. Carlson’s 9-under total of 135 through 36 holes is one stroke better than a group of six golfers bunched at 8-under.
Carlson and her Vanderbilt teammates have work to do if they want to capture their first Mason Rudolph team title since 2014. The Commodores enter the final round fourth in the team standings at 18-under, eight strokes off the pace set by Arkansas. Arizona State and Alabama are second and third in the team race at 23-under par and 20-under par, respectively.
Vanderbilt coach Greg Allen left the Vanderbilt Legends North course proud of his young squad, which features three first-year contributors.
“What a great opportunity our young team has before us tomorrow,” Allen said. “I really proud of the fight we showed today. It wasn’t quite as easy as yesterday, but the girls showed great composure and didn’t get frustrated.
“We got off to a great start then didn’t make as many putts on the back (nine). We had some good looks but just didn’t have a lot drop,” the coach added.
The Commodores return to action Sunday, with tee times starting at 8:50 a.m.
Carlson, from Lake Mary, Fla., continued her excellent play Saturday, making four birdies and a lone bogey to finish with 69. Carlson looks to become the first Commodore individual champion at the Mason Rudolph since Jennifer Hahn defeated teammate Cindy Ha by three strokes in 2014. Only one other Vanderbilt golfer, Courtney Wood in 2002, has captured medalist honors at the Mason Rudolph.
Vanderbilt’s Morgan Baxendale, a freshman from Windermere, Fla., added a 69 for the Commodores. It marked the best round of Baxendale’s young collegiate career.
Courtney Zeng’s even-par 72 and a 1-over par 73 by freshman Virginia Green also counted toward the Vanderbilt team total.
Freshman Louise Yu followed up a sensational 68 on Friday with a 75 Saturday. Senior Alexandra Farnsworth playing as an individual put together an excellent 3-under par 69.
Second round results from the Mason Rudolph follows:
Team Leaderboard
1. Arkansas 550 (273-277)
2. Arizona State 553 (277-276)
3. Alabama 556 (284-272)
4. Vanderbilt 558 (275-283)
5. Northwestern 565 (285-280)
6. Auburn 569 (285-284)
7. South Carolina 573 (289-284)
8. Clemson 577 (296-281)
9. Virginia 579 (290-289)
10. North Carolina 582 (294-288)
11. Houston 584 (288-296)
12. Chattanooga 585 (292-293)
13. UCF 591 (300-291)
14. Middle Tennessee 595 (293-302)
15. Charlotte 600 (300-300)
Individual Leaderboard (Top 10)
1. Abbey Carlson, Vanderbilt 66-69=135 (-(9)
T-2. Maria Fassi, Arkansas 65-71=136 (-8)
T-2. Linnea Storm, Arizona State 67-69=136 (-8)
T-2. Alana Uriella, Arkansas 67-69=136 (-8)
T-2. Elena Hualde, Auburn 67-69=138 (-8)
T-2. Lauren Stephenson, Alabama 68-68=136 (-8)
T-2. Maria Balcazar, UCF 71-65-136 (-8).
7. Dylan Kim, Arkansas 70-67=137 (-7)
8. Madison Kerley, Arizona State 70-68=138 (-6)
T-9. Lakareber Abe, Alabama 72-67=139 (-5)
T-9. Robert Liti, Arizona State 72-67=139 (-5)
T-9. Kristen Gillman, Alabama 70-69=139 (-5).
