Auburn Women’s Golf Clings to Slim Lead as UCF Challenge Nears Dramatic Finish
ORLANDO, Fla. - With just a few holes left to play and the sun setting over Eagle Creek Golf Club, No. 7 Auburn women’s golf finds itself in a dogfight at the top of the leaderboard at the UCF Challenge presented by PDI. The Tigers hold a razor-thin one-shot lead over Mississippi State heading into the conclusion of the final round, which was suspended due to darkness and will resume Tuesday morning.
If there’s one stat that tells the story of Auburn’s performance this week, it’s this: 23-under par on the par 5s. That’s not just efficient - that’s dominant. It’s a testament to a team that’s been aggressive when it counts, but disciplined enough to avoid costly mistakes.
“Twenty-three under on the par 5s says a lot about how well we’re playing,” Auburn head coach Melissa Luellen said. “With only three or four holes left, tomorrow will feel like a shootout. We need to stay locked in, make smart decisions and commit fully to every shot.”
That mindset has carried Auburn to the top so far. After a blistering 10-under 278 in round two - the lowest team round of the tournament - the Tigers were holding steady at 6-under in the final round when play was halted.
Their consistency has been key: they’ve recorded the fewest bogeys in the field and haven’t posted a single double bogey or worse all week. That kind of clean scorecard is how you stay in contention - and win.
Individually, senior Katie Cranston is leading the charge. She fired a 3-under 69 in round two and was 3-under through 15 holes in the final round before the horn blew.
At 9-under for the tournament, she’s just one shot back of Mississippi State’s Avery Weed for the individual lead. Cranston has been steady, confident, and clutch - exactly what you want from a senior with the tournament on the line.
Right behind her, Molly Brown Davidson has been heating up. She closed round two with four birdies over her last six holes to card a 4-under 68.
She’s even par in the final round with three holes left and sits at 7-under overall, tied for seventh. Her ability to catch fire late in rounds could be a difference-maker when play resumes.
Freshman Charlotte Cantonis is making quite the impression in her debut season. She dropped an eagle on the par-5 16th during round two en route to a 2-under 70, but it’s what she did in the final round that turned heads.
Cantonis rolled in four straight birdies on holes 13 through 16 before play was suspended. She’s 5-under for the tournament with three holes to go - and clearly trending upward.
Junior Anna Davis has quietly put together a solid tournament as well. She posted a 1-under 71 in round two and was 1-over in the final round with four holes left. At 3-under overall, she’s tied for 14th and keeping the Tigers’ team score anchored with steady play.
Auburn also has two players competing as individuals. One of them carded a 3-under 69 in round two and currently sits even par for the tournament, tied for 21st. Freshman Frances Brown bounced back from a tough opening round with a strong 2-under 70 in round two, showing resilience and promise for the future.
As the final holes loom on Tuesday morning, Auburn’s margin for error is slim, but their game plan has been working. They’ve attacked the par 5s, avoided big numbers, and leaned on a mix of veteran poise and youthful spark. If they can stay locked in for just a few more holes, they’ll walk away with a hard-earned team title.
Live scoring for the conclusion of the final round is available at scoreboard.clippd.com.