The Vanderbilt Women’s Golf team returned to action at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate from March 4-6. The Commodores struggled to stay competitive in a loaded field, taking 12th place out of 17 teams. Vanderbilt finished with a total team score of +18, which was 15 shots short of the victorious Arizona State Sun Devils.
Celina Sattelkau, Tillie Claggett, Virginie Ding, Ava Merrill and Lynn Lim earned the start for the Commodores at the par-71 Long Cove Club in Hilton Head Island, S.C.
After Day One, Vanderbilt sat in 12th place after shooting a collective 6-over 290. Claggett and Ding got things started for the Commodores, each carding a 1-over 72 to finish the first round in a tie for 38th. Claggett and Ding both cashed in three birdies on their back nines to stay in striking distance of the individual title.
Lim and Merrill both shot a 2-over 73 on Day One, leaving them in a tie for 51st. Sattelkau struggled in round one, carding four bogeys and a sole birdie to finish with a 74.
“We certainly didn’t get off to a hot start,” head coach Greg Allen said. “This tournament is loaded with great teams. Our [women] love a challenge and I’m looking forward to seeing them battle the next two days to make a move up the leaderboard.”
On Day Two, Lim set the pace for the Commodores. She shot an even-par 71 to finish the day in a tie for 24th. Despite Lim’s fantastic round, Vanderbilt fell to 13th place after shooting a collective 11-over 295.
“I was really happy to see Lynn [Lim] come out and play a solid round today,” Allen said after round two. “She struggled in Melbourne a couple of weeks ago, so it’s nice to see her hard work pay off this week.”
Sattelkau matched her score from round one, shooting another 74. She finished the day in a tie for 58th. Claggett also shot 74 on Day Two, to sit in a tie for 44th. An array of bogeys for both Sattelkau and Claggett prevented them from pushing into red figures.
Merrill and Ding struggled in round two, each shooting 76.
“This golf course is probably the most demanding we play all year and requires all aspects of your game to be dialed in,” Allen said. “We haven’t had our best stuff the last two days, but we believe we have what it takes to go out tomorrow and win the day.”
With the team title practically out of reach after two rounds, the Commodores looked to earn a top-10 finish as a team. Unfortunately for the Commodores, they finished the tournament in 12th place.
Still, it was Vanderbilt’s best day as a team as they shot a 1-over 285 to finish the tournament on a positive note.
Lim produced her best round of the tournament, shooting a 2-under 69. That pushed her into a tie for 14th, the third top-20 finish for the sophomore. Three birdies and a single bogey allowed Lim to surge up the individual leaderboard.
“It was really great to see Lynn [Lim] playing well again,” Allen said after round three. “This is a really good finish for her against some of the best players in the world.”
Merrill also posted a score in red figures, shooting a 1-under 70 to finish the tournament in a tie for 40th.
Sattelkau and Ding both shot 73 in round three to both finish in a tie for 54th. Claggett shot 74 to finish the tournament in a tie for 49th.
“I thought the girls gave a great effort today, and I’m proud of how they always represent Vanderbilt with high integrity,” Allen said after round three. “We’re going to take some time off and let the girls get out of town for spring break, then get back to work next week looking to close out the regular season with a strong showing at Clemson.”
Vanderbilt might not have played its best golf at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate, however, Lim continues to show why she is a staple in Vanderbilt’s lineup.
Vanderbilt will return to action at the Clemson Invitational from March 22-24 in Sunset, S.C.
