OPELIKA, Ala. – The Vanderbilt women’s golf team are moving on to the national championships after winning the NCAA Auburn Regional in convincing fashion Wednesday.
The Commodores posted an 8-under-par 280, the lowest team total of the three-day tournament, to overtake Duke, Florida State and Virginia and establish a new program record with their sixth team title of the year.
“I am excited, proud and fired up right now for this team and Coach (Emilie) Meason. They played with so much heart and determination, and have worked so hard to enjoy this moment,” Vanderbilt head coach Greg Allen said immediately after the competition.
Standout Vanderbilt freshman Austin Kim also captured the individual title, firing a 54-hole total of 6-under-par 210 at Saugahatchee Country Club. Kim received plenty of support from her teammates, including sophomore Morgan Baxendale, who finished third in the medalist competition on the heels of a collegiate-low, 5-under-par 67 in the final round.
The regional victory was the third in program history, and the first since 2014. Kim becomes the third Commodore to capture NCAA regional individual honors, following Jennifer Hahn (2014) and Jacqui Concolino (2004).
The Commodores will be making their 10th appearance at the NCAA Championships, which will start May 17 at the Blessings Golf Club in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It also marks Vanderbilt’s first visit to nationals since a 10th-place result in 2014.
Facing a five-stroke deficit entering the round, the Commodores got off to a quick start Wednesday, accumulating 10 birdies over their first seven holes to claim the lead midway into the round. Vanderbilt sealed the victory late in the round by making six birdies over the closing five holes.
“Words can’t explain how I feel right now,” Allen said. “What a great day and what a huge step forward for this ground of young ladies and for our program. I felt like the girls were very loose and relaxed at breakfast and that’s half the battle before the final round. I’ve been to enough of these to know that anything can happen. I think Burger (Meason) did a great job this week of keeping them relaxed and making sure they were ready to go.
“Mo (Baxendale), Auston and Lou (Louise Yu) were hot early and got us off to a great start. What a round by Mo! That was really clutch. And it’s so good to see Auston get the win. She’s been close all year and it’s great to see her patience and work pay off,” Allen added.
Kim, from St. Augustine, Florida, and Baxendale, from Orlando, Fla., were sensational for the Commodores. They accounted for 11 birdies, including six by Baxendale.
Kim took control of the medalist competition with four consecutive birdies early in the round. She added a fifth ate the par-5 10th en route to a 2-under 70. Kim was the only player in the 96-person field to record three consecutive sub-par rounds.
Baxendale struggled for nearly a month before the regional, but found her game with an opening-round 75. After a second-round 71, Baxendale came out firing Wednesday, with birdies of three of the first five holes. After a bogey on the sixth holes, Baxendale rebounded impressively, making three more birdies over the last 12 holes.
Baxendale’s 67 was two strokes lower than her previous collegiate best. It was also the second lowest round of the tournament, behind only a 65 posted in the second round by Murray State’s Linette Holmslykke.
Yu, a sophomore from Duluth, Georgia, and junior Abbey Carlson from Orlando provided solid support behind Kim and Baxendale.
Yu made four birdies in a round of 1-under-par 71. Carlson was 2-over through 12 holes, then finished with three birdies over the last six holes to record an even-par 72.
The fifth Commodore, senior Courtney Zeng, couldn’t duplicate her teammates’ birdies. She finished without a birdie in a round of 76.
NCAA Auburn Regional
Saugahatchee Country Club, par 72, 6,371 yards
Third Round Results
Team Standings
Vanderbilt -4 860 (287-293-280)
Florida State +1 863 (291-289-283)
Duke +4 868 (290-287-291)
Virginia +9 873 (296-283-294)
Auburn +10 874 (299-290-285)
Tennessee +12 876 (294-295-287)
Maryland +15 879 (294-297-288)
East Carolina +17 881 (291-295-295)
Furman +22 886 (299-294-293)
Alabama +31 895 (300-303-292)
Houston +34 898 (306-293-299)
California +36 900 (304-300-296)
Clemson +40 904 (307-298-299)
Kennesaw St. +41 905 (308-298-295)
Denver +45 909 (304-304-301)
South Alabama +46 910 (310-300-300)
Murray State +52 916 (312-302-306)
Albany +53 917 (309-304-304)
Vanderbilt Individuals
1. Austin Kim -6 210 (70-70-70)
T-3. Morgan Baxendale -3 213 (75-71-67)
T-23. Abbey Carlson +4 220 (73-75-72)
T-28. Louise Yu +5 221 (73-77-71)
T-60. Courtney Zeng +11 227 (71-80-76)
