Auburn Women Golf Move Into Lead At SEC Championship

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Decent start by the women who really haven't played great in my last few tourneys. Two of our better players shooting in the 80's was not good.

Playing in her final Southeastern Conference Tournament, senior Patricia Sanz got off to a good start Friday as she is tied for the first-round lead with a 3-under-par 69. Auburn finished the day in second place with an 18-over 306, trailing first-place Alabama.

Conducted by the SEC and the University of Arkansas, the SEC Championship is a 54-hole stroke play tournament being played at the Blessings Golf Course. The tournament features eight teams ranked in the top 25 in the nation. The par-72 course is playing at 6,134 yards for the tournament.

"We had some good looks today, but this is a very tough course," said Auburn head coach Kim Evans. "There were a lot of high scores coming in today, but we were able to hold our own and stay in it. We have some work to do tonight, but we are looking forward to getting back at it tomorrow."

Sanz, a native of Madrid, Spain, carded her second round in the 60s of the season. After taking a bogey on No. 2, she took control for the rest of the day with 12 pars and four birdies. Her 69 is the second of her career in the SEC Tournament, tying her 69 in 2009. It also ties for the second-lowest round ever for an Auburn golfer in the SEC Tournament, coming in just behind her own 67 from last year's tournament.

"Patti did a great job for us today out there, she really kept us in it," said Evans. "She had a very steady round and we saw some good things. We just have to keep it going the rest of the weekend."

Next in line were sophomore Carlie Yadloczky and freshman Victoria Trapani. The pair finished the day tied for 16th with 5-over 77s. Yadloczky, from Casselberry, Fla., had an up-and-down day with three double-bogeys, three bogeys, two pars and an eagle. Trapani had a similar day with two double-bogeys, five bogeys, two pars and an eagle.

The eagles by Yadloczky and Trapani were two of just three carded on the course all day with the other being a hole-in-one by Georgia's Marta Silva Zamora.

Sophomore Marta Sanz, Auburn's stroke average leader for the season, came in fourth with an 11-over 83 to tie for 51st. Rounding out the lineup was senior Haley Wilson in 56th with an 86.

Individually, Georgia's Zamora and Auburn's Sanz are tied for the lead at 3-under 69. Vanderbilt's Marina Alex is third with a 2-under 70, followed by Alabama's Stephanie Meadow in fourth with a 1-under 71. LSU's Madelene Sagstrom is the fifth and final player at par or better, finishing the day with an even 72.

In the team race, Alabama is in the lead with a 9-over 297, just ahead of Auburn at 18-over 306. Florida (307) is third, followed by Georgia (308) while host Arkansas and Ole Miss are tied for fifth with 21-over 309s.

The second round of the SEC Tournament is set to begin at 8:30 a.m. CT, Saturday with tee times off the Nos. 1 and 12 tees. Auburn will tee off from 9:20-10 a.m. off the No. 1 tee, playing alongside Alabama and Florida.

Fans can follow all the action at the SEC Tournament with live scoring at www.GolfStat.com.

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Update Auburn in lead

The Auburn women's golf team carded a 9-over 297 Saturday to take the lead at the Southeastern Conference Championship heading into Sunday's final round. The Tigers have a 27-over 603 for the tournament, just one stroke ahead of host Arkansas. Senior Patricia Sanz has sole possession of the individual lead, posting a 73 Saturday for a 2-under 142.