March 3, 2018
Rucker Intercollegiate Results
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — The Vanderbilt women’s golf squad used a strong performance on their closing back-nine Saturday to move into eighth place in the team standings at the highly competitive Darius Rucker Intercollegiate.
Vanderbilt used a collective one-over par over the last nine holes from its five-player lineup to earn sole possession of eighth place in the 18-team tournament, staged at scenic Long Cove Club on Hilton Head Island.
The 29th-ranked Commodores were paced by freshman Morgan Baxendale. A product of Orlando, Fla., Baxendale registered the team’s low round with a two-over par 73 despite making just a single birdie. The other four Commodores — sophomore Abbey Carlson, freshmen Virginia Green and Louise Yu, and junior Courtney Zeng — were just off Baxendale’s low score.
Head Coach Greg Allen said the Commodores enter the final round Sunday at the tough Pete Dye course within reach of a top-five finish if they play to their abilities.
“We are excited about tomorrow and look forward to the competition. We’ve put ourselves in a position with a lot to play for on Sunday,” Allen said.
Entering Saturday in 10th place in the team standings, Allen’s squad sputtered early, then come back to play its best golf over the closing nine holes. The Commodores were a collective 17-over par through just five holes, with six scores of double bogey or higher. The squad substantially improved after making the turn, producing seven birdies on the back nine while eliminating big numbers.
“I was really proud of the grit, resilience and heart we showed,” Allen said. “They could have easily packed it in after the first five holes but they kept grinding.
“The conditions were extremely tough, with winds blowing 20 [miles per hour] most of the day and gusting to 30. With these conditions, a poor shot on this course can be severely penalized and that happened a few times early. But I thought we showed great poise and a lot of resolve [after the start],” Allen added.
Allen came away from the round impressed with Baxendale’s performance. Despite making just one birdie, the freshman’s two-over 73 was the low score in a pairing that included nationally-ranked Leona Maguire of Duke and Jennifer Kupcho of Wake Forest. Baxendale will enter the final round tied for 20th place on the individual leaderboard.
“Today has to be a big confidence boost for Mo [Baxendale] since she was matched up with two of the best players in college golf. I think this experience shows she can play with anybody,” Allen said.
Baxendale wasn’t the only Commodore to demonstrate determination. Yu, Carlson and Green all managed to salvage rounds that began in less-than-ideal fashion.
Zeng could not duplicate her one-under round of 70 on Friday. After managing a 77 Saturday, Zeng remains tied with Baxendale as the team’s low medalist.
Improved play on the venue’s tough par-5s helped the Commodores make a jump on the leaderboard. The squad played the three longest holes in two-under par Saturday after going nine-over on the same holes Friday.
Vanderbilt will be matched with LSU and Georgia from the Southeastern Conference on Sunday. The Commodores, Tigers and Bulldogs will tee off on the first hole, starting at 7 a.m. CT.
Darius Rucker Intercollegiate Team Scores
1. Alabama (+9) 286-291=577
2. Northwestern (+15) 287-296=583
3. Arkansas (+18) 290-296=586
4. Furman (+21) 292-298=589
5. Wake Forest (+22) 296-294=590
6. Duke (+23) 295-296=591
7. LSU (+25) 291-302=593
8. Vanderbilt (+27) 295-300=595
9. Georgia (+29) 294-303=597
10. South Carolina (+30) 298-300=598
11. North Carolina (+33) 293-308=601
12. Arizona State (+34) 293-309=602
13. Mississippi State (+35) 292-311=603
T-14. Baylor (+37) 299-306=605
T-14. Tennessee (+37) 300-305=605
16. Oklahoma State (+38) 304-302=606
17. Auburn (+39) 304-303=607
18. Virginia (+48) 301-315=616
Vanderbilt Individual Results
T-20. Morgan Baxendale (+3) 74-73=147
T-20. Courtney Zeng (-1) 70-77=147
T-38. Abbey Carlson (+9) 76-75=151
T-38. Virginia Green (+9) 75-76=151
T-75. Louise Yu (+14) 80-76=156
