OPELIKA, Ala. – The Vanderbilt women’s golf team will enter the final round at the NCAA Auburn Regional on Wednesday in a tie for third place, and in prime position to qualify for the NCAA Championships.
And the youngest Commodore — freshman Auston Kim — is positioned to become the Vanderbilt’s third NCAA Regional medalist.
During Tuesday’s second round, the Commodores could not duplicate its closing performance from Monday when they went 3-under par on the last nine nines. On Tuesday, Vanderbilt went 7-over-par on the same nine holes en route to a team tally of 5-over 293.
With a two-day 580, Vanderbilt enters the final round five strokes off the pace set by top-seeded Duke. Another ACC team, fourth-seed Virginia, is just one stroke ahead of the Commodores.
Vanderbilt will be paired with fifth-place East Carolina and sixth-place Auburn on Wednesday. The Commodores will tee off the first hole from 9-9:40 a.m.
Vanderbilt will be seeking its first appearance at the NCAA Championships since a 10th-place result in 2014. The national championships will be held May 17-22 at Blessings Golf Course in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
The Commodores are positioned right where they need to be entering the third round, according to head coach Greg Allen.
“We didn’t close the round quite as well today and that probably cost us being in the final group (on Wednesday). And I’m perfectly okay with that because we are exactly where we’re supposed to be after two rounds,” Allen said. “I’m really proud of the effort our girls showed today and I’m excited about the opportunity we have tomorrow. I believe in this team and have faith they will come out ready to play.”
Kim, from St. Augustine, Florida, and sophomore Morgan Baxendale from Orlando, highlighted the Commodores’ efforts on Tuesday. While Kim matched her opening-round score of 2-under-par 70, Baxendale improved four strokes with a 1-under-par 71. It also marked Baxendale’s lowest round since early March.
“What a lift Mo (Baxendale) gave us and Austin continues to play some great golf,” Allen said.
Kim, who entered the Auburn Regional just days after qualifying for the United States Women’s Open, posted six birdies, including four on the back nine. Kim’s final birdie came on the 18th hole, and pushed her into a first-place tie in the individual competition with Murray State’s Linette Holmslykke and Maryland’s Virgunpat Olankitkunchai.
If Kim captures medalist honors Wednesday, she will become the third Commodore to accomplish the feat, joining Jennifer Hahn (2014 East Regional) and Jacqui Concolino (2007 NCAA Central Regional).
Baxendale had a bogey on her third hole, then never made another in her superb round. With birdies at the par-3 No. 7 and par-3 No. 15, Baxendale finished with her best round since the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate in March. She is tied for 18th in the individual competition.
The three other Commodores at the regionals — junior Abbey Carlson, sophomore Louise Yu and senior Courtney Zeng — struggled to go low on Tuesday.
Carlson was 1-under through 15 holes, then tired late in an eventual 3-over-par 75. Yu and Zeng combined for a single birdie in rounds of 77 and 81, respectively.
NCAA Auburn Regional
Saugahatchee Country Club
Second Round Results
Team Standings
T-3. Vanderbilt +5 580 (287-293)
Vanderbilt Individuals
T-1. Austin Kim -4 140 (70-70)
T-18. Morgan Baxendale +2 146 (75-71)
T-28. Abbey Carlson +4 148 (73-75)
T-46. Louise Yu +6 150 (73-77)
T-51. Courtney Zeng +7 151 (71-80)
