AU ROUNDUP: Women's golf takes 2nd at Tar Heel Invitational

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The third-ranked Auburn women’s golf team earned a second-place finish at the 34th annual Tar Heel Invitational after carding a 2-over 290 final round, giving the team a tournament-total 8-over-par 872.

The Tigers were led by Cydney Clanton, who took a fifth place finish individually.

Hosted by the University of North Carolina, the Tar Heel Invitational is a 54-hole tournament being played at the par-72, 6,285 yard UNC Finley Golf Course.

After making a jump to third place in the second round of play, the Tigers entered the final 18 holes behind eventual champion Michigan State and Alabama. Auburn, with the 2-over performance, overcame the Tide, but was unable to catch Michigan State, which shot a 4-over 292 final
round and finished at 4-under-par.

Auburn’s 2-over 290 performance was the second best round of the day, only one shot behind Texas A&M.

Leading the Tigers in the final round and for the weekend was Clanton. The junior shot a 1-under 71 for the day to solidify a fifth place finish for the 54-hole tournament.

Auburn’s biggest performance of the weekend perhaps came from freshman Carlie Yadloczky, who shot an even-par 72 in the final round and a tournament-total 2-over-par 218 to give herself a tie for 11th.

Senior Candace Schepperle tied for sixth place as she carded a 1-over 73 on the final 18 holes. The Tigers’ fourth contributing round came from Patricia Sanz’s 2-over 74. Auburn sophomore Haley Wilson carded a 9-over 81 in the final round to end the weekend at 15-over-par 231 and tied for 68th.

Volleyball falls to Tennessee, 3-0
The Auburn volleyball team battled Tennessee, but dropped a hard-fought match, 3-0 (23-25, 23-25, 20-25). The Tigers are now 11-7 overall with a 3-4 record in the Southeastern Conference. Tennessee improved to 12-5 and 4-2 in conference play.

“There were some very encouraging signs from this team on the road,” Wade Benson, head volleyball coach, said. “We had our chances to win sets one and two, but just couldn’t pull it off. Our practice habits need to mature and with that, those loses will become wins.”

Junior Lauren Mellor led the way for Auburn, tying a career-high with 11 kills and having six digs. Junior setter Sara Shanks picked up her first double-double of the season, finishing with 24 assists and 10 digs.

Freshman Sarah Bullock and junior Liz Crouch also picked up 10 digs on the day.

Auburn returns to the Student Activity Center, hosting a pair of SEC matches this week. The Tigers take on No. 6 Florida at 6 p.m. on Friday and closes out the weekend with a 2:30 p.m. match against South Carolina on Sunday.

Men’s golf hits links today
The 25th-ranked Auburn men’s golf team returns to action today for the 2009 Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate at the Old Overton Golf Cub in Vestavia Hills.

Sophomore Kyle Kopsick will lead the Tigers in the No. 1 spot for the third consecutive event, followed by senior Cole Moreland, sophomore John Stembridge, sophomore Will McCurdy and freshman David Zickler.

Kopsick returns following a win at the Gary Koch Invitational where he set school records in 18-hole and 54-hole scoring. The Chicago native currently ranks 10th in the nation, according to the GolfWeek/Sagarin top-25. Kopsick placed top-10 in the opening two events of the season and currently holds a 69.17 scoring average.

The Tigers placed second in the 2008 Jerry Pate, with all five golfers carding a second round in the 60s. Three members of that team return in 2009 — Kopsick, Moreland and Stembridge.