Sept. 15, 2017
Mason Rudolph First Round Results here ll John Russell Photos
FRANKLIN, Tenn. — Anchored by a collegiate best round by sophomore Abbey Carlson and a superb performance by freshman Louise Yu, the Commodores moved into contention Friday after the first round of the 17th Annual Mason Rudolph Women’s Championship.
Greg Allen’s Commodores set a new single-day record for the Mason Rudolph, registering a 13-under par total of 275 to claim second place. Vanderbilt is just two strokes off the pace set by first-round leading Arkansas. Reigning NCAA national champion Arizona State is third, two strokes behind the Commodores.
The squad also threatened its team record for single-day scoring at any event. The program’s only lower one-day score, a 274-total in 2014, came during a winning performance at the NCAA East Regional in Tallahassee, Fla.
Allen described the Commodores’ Friday performance as “one of the most fun I’ve had.”
“I told the girls afterward that today may have been the most fun I’ve had coaching a round of golf in a long, long time,” Allen said. “I am so proud of each one of them, whether their score counted or whether they played as an individual. This was a total team effort. Gosh was it fun to watch. From watching Abbey make eagle on 18 for a 66, seeing a lot of birdies, or getting a lot of great par saves.
“I loved seeing Louise come out and play that well in her first collegiate round and Courtney played one of her best rounds as a Vandy golfer. But there’s a lot of golf left and we have to come out Saturday and stay committed to the process. I’m pumped our young ladies were up to the task today and can’t wait to watch them tomorrow,” Allen added.
The Commodores tee off Saturday starting at 10:10 a.m. on the Vanderbilt Legends North course. Carlson, a sophomore from Lake Mary, Fla., was sensational for the Commodores. After an opening bogey, Carlson closed with a rush, reeling off five birdies and an eagle over her final 10 holes for a 66. The score marked a new collegiate best and is just one stroke off her career round.
Carlson capped her superb round by draining a 90-foot putt for eagle on the 18th hole. She played the back nine six-under par.
Carlson’s score was the lowest by a Commodore at the Mason Rudolph since Megan Grehan fired a 65 during the 2008 tourney.
Yu, from Duluth, Ga., played an excellent round in her first competitive round as a Commodore. The freshman registered seven birdies, including four over her last six holes, to finish with a 4-under 68. Carlson and Yu received ample support from their teammates.
Junior Courtney Zeng matched her low round as a Commodore with a bogey-free 69. Her only previous 69 came as a freshman at the 2015 Mason Rudolph.
Freshmen Morgan Baxendale of Orlando, Fla., capped the Commodores’ team scoring, shooting an even-par 72 by making key back-to-back birdies late in her round.
A third freshman, Virginia Green of Fairhope, Ala., and senior Alexandra Farnsworth of Nashville finished with rounds of 2-over 74.
First round results from the Mason Rudolph follows:
Team Leaderboard
1. Arkansas 273. 2. Vanderbilt 275. 3. Arizona State 277. 4. Alabama 284. T-5 Auburn 285. T-5. Northwestern 285. 7. Houston 288, 8. South Carolina 289. 9. Virginia 290. T-10. Chattanooga 292. T-10. Clemson 292. 12. Middle Tennessee 293. 13. North Carolina 294. T-14. Charlotte 300. T-15. UCF 300.
Individual Leaderboard (Top 10)
1. Maria Fassi, Arkansas 65 (-7). 2. Abbey Carlson, Vanderbilt 66 (-6). T-3. Linnea Storm, Arizona State 67 (-5). T-3. Alana Uriella, Arkansas 67 (-5). T-3. Elena Hualde, Auburn 67 (-5). T-6. Lauren Stephenson 68 (-4). T-6. Louise Yu Vanderbilt 68 (-4). T-6. Olivia Mehaffey, Arizona State 68 (-4). T-10. Courtney Zeng, Vanderbilt 69 (-3). T-10. Stephanie Lau, Northwestern 69 (-3).
