April 20, 2018
SEC Stroke Play Results | SEC Match Play Pairings
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Vanderbilt women’s golf squad advanced to match play at the Southeastern Conference Championship after finishing seventh in the team standings after 54 holes of stroke play.
The Commodores will face No. 2 seed Alabama in match play Saturday morning, with the winner returning later in the day to take on the Arkansas-Florida victor.
Pairings for the Vanderbilt-Alabama quarterfinal match follow:
7:00 a.m. – Virginia Green (VU) vs. Kristen Gillman (ALA)
7:10 a.m. – Louise Yu (VU) vs. Cheyenne Knight (ALA)
7:20 a.m. – Courtney Zeng (VU) vs. Lauren Stephenson (ALA)
7:30 a.m. – Morgan Baxendale (VU) at Lakareber Abe (ALA)
7:40 a.m. – Abbey Carlson (VU) vs. Angelica Moresco (ALA)
Vanderbilt advanced to match play by posting a nine-over par 297 total Friday in the third and final round of stroke play. The Commodores were just three shots out of fourth place in the stroke-play team standings.
Vanderbilt head coach Greg Allen said the Commodores accomplished their first SEC Championship objective by moving into match play, which features the top eight team finishers.
“We left Nashville Monday playing for a Saturday tee time and we got it done. I’m really proud of the girls,” Allen said. “We got off to a great start with a lot of birdies and were able to hang on coming down the stretch. Abbey [Carlson], Louise [Yu] and Mo [Morgan Baxendale] were solid today.
“Match play will be a new experience for everyone tomorrow. Burger [assistant coach Emilie Meason] and I have been leaning on coach [Scott] Limbaugh and his experience with it the last several years. Obviously, Alabama is the higher-ranked team but I can promise you we will come out ready and will fight our tails off trying to get the upset,” Allen added.
Sophomore Abbey Carlson and a pair of freshmen, Morgan Baxendale and Louise Yu, guided the Commodores into match play.
Carlson, from Lake Mary, Fla., posted a one-under par 71 on Friday, highlighted by four birdies, including three straight on the front nine. Carlson’s play-striking was superb, as she had at least three more birdie opportunities inside 12 feet.
Baxendale, from Orlando, Fla., was the Commodores’ low competitor after three rounds of stroke play. She finished the tournament tied for 15th overall with a 5-over par total of 221. On Friday, Baxendale notched a 1-over par 73 that featured four birdies. She also finished with a rush, making birdie at the tough No. 15 and No. 16 holes.
Yu, from Duluth, Ga., fired a 1-over par 73 Friday. Her round included four birdies, including a hot start with three birdies in her first five holes.
Virginia Green, a freshman from Fairhope, Ala., and Courtney Zeng, a junior from Orlando, finished with rounds of 79 and 80, respectively.
SEC Championship Results
Stroke Play (54 Holes)
Team Results
1. South Carolina (+3) 291-291-285=867 ^
2. Alabama (+8) 286-304-282=872 ^
4. Arkansas (+11) 299-293-283=875 ^
4. Georgia (+31) 306-290-299=895 ^
T-5. Auburn (+32) 306-301-289=896 ^
T-5. Florida (+32) 298-301-297=896 ^
7. Vanderbilt (+35) 296-306-289=899 ^
8. Missouri (+43) 304-308-295=907 ^
9. Kentucky (+49) 309-301-303=913
10. Mississippi State (+51) 308-305-302=915
11. Ole Miss (+52) 316-305-295=916
12. Tennessee (+54) 310-304-304=918
13. Texas A&M (+59) 312-315-296=923
14. LSU (+63) 313-311-303=927
^ – Teams advancing to match play
Vanderbilt Individuals
T-15. Morgan Baxendale (+5) 76-72-73=221
T-19. Louise Yu (+7) 70-80-73=223
T-24. Abbey Carlson (+9) 78-75-72=225
T-52. Virginia Green (+18) 74-81-79=234
T-55. Courtney Zeng (+19) 76-79-80-235
