Auburn Women’s Golf Comes Out Firing, Grabs Early Lead at UCF Challenge
ORLANDO, Fla. - Auburn women’s golf wasted no time making a statement to open their spring season. The No. 7-ranked Tigers surged to the top of the leaderboard after Sunday’s first round at the UCF Challenge, carding a strong 8-under 280 at Eagle Creek Golf Club to take a one-shot lead over No.
21 Baylor and No. 18 Mississippi State.
This is exactly the kind of start head coach Melissa Luellen was looking for - aggressive, composed, and efficient. Auburn had three players shoot 3-under 69s, showing off the kind of depth that separates good teams from elite ones.
One of the highlights of the day came early, when sophomore Molly Brown Davidson holed out from 90 yards on the par-5 fourth hole for eagle. It was a momentum-swinging moment that helped ignite the Tigers’ round and set the tone for the rest of the day.
“We had a good start with three players going 3-under,” Luellen said. “The eagle from Molly Brown was definitely the shot of the day. We’re also focused on leading the field in par 3s and par 5s this week - and we made great progress in both.”
That wasn’t just coach speak. Auburn was dominant on the par 5s, going 11-under as a team - the best mark in the field.
It’s the kind of stat that tells you this team isn’t just playing safe golf. They’re attacking, especially on the scoring holes.
Katie Cranston led the charge with six birdies in her round, including three in her final five holes. She’s been trending upward, and this round showed her ability to close strong - a trait that becomes invaluable in multi-day tournaments.
Davidson, fresh off that eagle, added two birdies to her card and looked comfortable throughout the round. Anna Davis, one of Auburn’s most consistent players from the fall, picked up right where she left off, rolling in four birdies to also post a 69.
All three are tied for fourth on the individual leaderboard, just two shots off the lead. That kind of positioning gives Auburn a serious shot not just at contending, but potentially running away with it if they can build on this momentum in Monday’s second round.
Further down the lineup, Charlotte Cantonis and Carys Worby each shot 1-over 73, solid rounds that kept Auburn’s team score in great shape. Meanwhile, Anne Fernandez and Frances Brown, competing as individuals, posted rounds of 74 and 79, respectively.
With two rounds still to play, there’s a lot of golf left, but Auburn has already made it clear: they came to Orlando to win. The Tigers will be back on the course Monday for round two, looking to extend their lead and keep the pressure on the rest of the field.