FRANKLIN, Tenn. – Sparked by defending tournament medalist Abbey Carlson, the Vanderbilt women’s golf team responded from a slow start to claim a share of the first-round lead at the 19th Mason Rudolph Championship Friday.
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The Commodores, reigning team champions at the tournament hosted by Vanderbilt Athletics, posted a 1-under-par total of 287 to move into contention after 18 holes. They share the first-round team lead with Houston. UCF and North Carolina are one stroke off the lead.
Carlson impressed in her effort to claim a second consecutive individual title at the tournament. The senior from Lake Mary, Florida, finished with a 4-under-par 68, and shares the medalist lead after 18 holes with UCF’s Elizabeth Moon.
The Vanderbilt Legends North Course played extremely tough on Friday. Vanderbilt and Houston were the only teams to register sub-par team totals in the opening round. Individually, only three players broke 70.
Vanderbilt head coach Greg Allen was proud of how his team closed the round after making few putts on the front nine.
“I thought the girls fought really hard all day and made some birdies down the stretch,” Allen said. “The (Vanderbilt Legends) North course was a very hard test today, especially around the green which were really firm and fast. We also had some wind conditions, so it was little different course than what we’ve seen in a recent weeks.
“Considering everything, I’m excited about seeing how we compete on Saturday. We probably didn’t putt or play our very best, but the course had a great deal to do with that. I look forward to how we come back tomorrow.”
Carlson’s 68 continued her remarkable history at the tough Vanderbilt Legends North Course. It marked her seventh straight under-par round at the Mason Rudolph dating back to her freshman year in 2016. She has also tallied sub-70 scores in five of her last six rounds at the tournament, including back-to-back rounds of 66 last year to win individual honors.
Morgan Baxendale, a junior from Windermere, Fla., was the closest Commodore to Carlson, finishing with three birdies in an even-par round of 72. Baxendale is tied for 12th in the individual race.
Louise Yu, a junior from Duluth, Georgia, birdied two of her last five holes to finish with a 1-over-par 73. Yu came into the tournament off a runner-up individual result in the season-opening Cougar Classic two weeks ago.
Sophomore Auston Kim, who claimed medalist honors at the Cougar Classic with a superb 54-hole total of 16-under-par 200, ended the first round with a 2-over 74. Kim’s effort included five birdies.
The fifth member of Vanderbilt’s starting five, freshman Tess Davenport finished with a 3-under-par 75. Davenport’s round was highlighted by a pair of birdies.
Three other Commodores — freshman Jayna Choi, freshman Celina Sattelkau and junior Virginia Green — are competing in the individual competition. Choi posted with a 2-over-par 74, Sattelkau recorded a 6-over-par 78 and Green finished with a 7-over-par 79.
The Commodores will return to action Saturday in second-round play. They will tee off starting at 10:10 a.m.
Mason Rudolph Championship
Vanderbilt Legends North Course
Par 72, 6,460 yards
Team Standings (first round results)
T-1. Vanderbilt -1 (287). T-1. Houston -1 (287). T-3. UCF E (288). T-3. North Carolina E (288). 5. Charlotte +1 (289). T-6. Mississippi State +3 (291). T-6. Clemson +3 (291). 8. Chattanooga +4 (292). 9. Mercer +5 (293). 10. Auburn +6 (294). 11. Northwestern +12 (300). 12. Missouri +13 (301). 13. Middle Tennessee +14 (302). 14. Louisville +15 (303). 15. Florida Atlantic +18 (306).
Vanderbilt Individuals
T-1. Abbey Carlson -4 (68)
T-12. Morgan Baxendale E (72)
T-25. Louise Yu +1 (73)
T-32. Auston Kim +1 (73)
T-42. Tess Davenport +3 (75)
Other Vanderbilt participants
T-32. Jayna Choi +2 (74)
66. Celina Sattelkau +6 (78)
T-67. Virginia Green +7 (79)
