NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Greg Allen’s nationally-ranked Vanderbilt women’s golf team will look to notch back-to-back victories for the first time in nearly five years when they compete in the Reynolds Lake Oconee Invitational this weekend.
The Commodores, ranked No. 5 by Golfweek and No. 6 by Golfstat, are among 17 teams teeing off Saturday at 8 a.m. CT for the 54-hole tournament being staged at the Reynolds’ National Golf Course. Barring inclement weather, all competitors will play 27 holes Saturday and Sunday.
The Vanderbilt lineup includes freshman Auston Kim, senior Courtney Zeng, junior Abbey Carlson and a pair of sophomores, Morgan Baxendale and Louise Yu. A sixth Commodore, sophomore Virginia Green, will compete individually in the tournament.
The Commodores, who will be joined by SEC teams Missouri and Kentucky among the participants, are competing in the Reynolds Lake Oconee after two fall tournaments were shortened by weather from 54 holes to 36.
“We entered the spring with two extra days of competition and this tournament fit perfectly between the UCF Challenge and Darius Rucker Intercollegiate in early March,” Allen said. “Instead of preparing and playing here at The Legends, we’re getting a chance to compete with more at stake at Lake Oconee.”
The Commodores are looking for their second straight tournament title. They are coming off a commanding eight-stroke team victory Feb. 5 at the UCF Challenge.
Kim, Zeng and Baxendale enter the Reynolds Lake Oconee event in superb form. Kim captured SEC Freshman of the Week honors on Feb. 13 after finishing second in the UCF Challenge medalist competition. Kim notched a 54-hole score of 10-under-par 206 in Orlando, highlighted by a 6-under 66 in the second round. Zeng and Baxendale provided strong support to Kim, finishing fourth and 15th, respectively, with totals of 7-under-par 209 and 3-under-par 213.
Carlson and Yu also closed the UCF Challenge in good form and could contend for medalist honors at Lake Oconee.
Carlson, Kim and Zeng also remain under serious consideration for the Arnold Palmer Cup, a competition in June between teams made up of United States and international men and women collegiate players. In the latest Palmer Cup release, Carlson was ranked No. 10, Kim was No. 12 and Zeng was No. 13.
The Commodores are paired with Missouri, Texas Tech and Mercer in the opening round. Live scoring can be found on Golfstat.com.
Alex, Concolino playing in LPGA Australia Event
Former Vanderbilt standouts Marina Alex and Jacqui Concolino are making their seasonal debuts on the LPGA Tour this week in Australia.
Alex, winner of the 2018 Cambia Portland Classic last August in Oregon, and Concolino, are competing in the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open.
The Golf Channel will feature late-night coverage of the closing 36 holes on Friday and Saturday.
