Auburn advance to SEC finals; Walsh’s Deacons defeated in ACC

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Julie McCarthy (Photo: Cy Cyr/Golf Channel)

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The Auburn women’s golf team knocked off Vanderbilt and Alabama back-to-back in match play Saturday to advance to the finals of the SEC Championship where they will face Mississippi State on Sunday.
Forrest Little’s Julie McCarthy was defeated 4&2 in her quarterfinal match against Tess Davenport before junior Brooke Sansom took her spot in the lineup for the semifinals and was all square against Alabama when the match ended.
“It feels really good,” Auburn head coach Melissa Luellen said. “I’m so proud of these girls. It just shows progression. We keep trying to get better, to recruit great players, great fighters. They welcome the challenge. Win or lose tomorrow, they’re going to fight like crazy, and I’m going to be proud of them no matter what.”
In the semifinals against Alabama, sophomore Megan Schofill changed the momentum when she forced extra holes with a birdie on the 18th hole and then won her match on the first playoff hole. Minutes after Schofill’s match ended, senior Mychael O’Berry closed out her match, 2&1, and clinched a 3-1-1 victory for the Tigers.
Schofill and O’Berry won both their matches on the day. The two were dominant in the quarterfinals against Vanderbilt with Schofill winning 5&4 and O’Berry winning 7&6. 
“I’m super proud of myself and our team,” Schofill said. “We put in a lot of hard work, and this moment has been long coming. I think everything is just clicking, and I know we’re excited for tomorrow.”
“It feels great,” added O’Berry. “It was tough out there today. We all played so well, and that just goes to show you how good of a team Alabama is. We grinded for it. We’ve been working for hard for this, so we’re excited.”

Meanwhile, in the ACC Championship, Castlewarden’s Lauren Walsh was the only Demon Deacon to win her match as the No. 2 seeded, and No. 2 nationally ranked Wake Forest women’s golf team fell to the No. 3 seeded and No. 3 nationally ranked Florida State in the semifinals of match play at the ACC Championships at Sedgefield Country Club.

Sophomore Walsh was at least two up all day and was one up entering the 18th hole. Walsh won the match two up on the 18th green after senior Siyun Liu and freshman Mimi Rhodes dropped their matches.

“We got down early and that was tough, but I’m so proud of this group for being as resilient as they are,” said head coach Kim Lewellen. Florida State is a good golf team and our girls never gave up. They fought back and made it a match. Two went to 18 and one went to six extra holes. They showed some toughness that will help us tremendously through Regionals and Nationals.”

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mccAuburn will look to add its 10th conference title and first since 2002 on Sunday. The Tigers will tee off against Mississippi State in the SEC Championship final at 7:30 a.m. CT. The match will be televised live on SEC Network, and live scoring can be found on Golfstat.com.

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