The No. 6 Auburn women's golf team won the 2009 Southeastern Conference Championship by eight strokes April 19 after a weekend long tournament in Blythewood, S.C.
The team's overall score for the tournament was 18-over-par, 870.
It is the second-lowest total tournament score in Auburn history.
This is the seventh SEC title for the Auburn women's golf program.
The University of South Carolina hosted the SEC Championship at the University Club at Cobblestone Park. It was a 54-hole stroke play tournament on a par-71, 6,204-yard course.
"We started out so strong," said Auburn head coach Kim Evans. "They just went after it. Then we fell of a little bit, but we finished strong."
The Tigers finished the first round with a six-stroke lead in the championship Friday by scoring a 5-over-par 289. After the first round, three of Auburn's players ranked in the top five.
"It is a pretty difficult golf course, and it was a windy day," Evans said. "I think we were pretty anxious to get started. I think we just wanted to get out there and see what we could do."
Arkansas moved into first place with a three-stroke lead Saturday against Auburn, who shot a 12-over-par 296 in the second round.
Evans said the team, as a whole, had a stale day Saturday and lost some ground, leaving them with their work cut out for them in the championship's final round Sunday.
"We just really wanted to find momentum," Evans said. "I told them to get excited about winning instead of being sad that they dropped."
The team pulled back ahead Sunday by making the final round's low score of one-over-par 285, also the third-lowest SEC Championship round in Auburn's history.
"Finishing strong is everything," Evans said. "In golf, if you can outright win it on the last day, that is huge."
Evans said Sunday was a stressful day.
"To come down the last three holes and take care of your business, I am so proud of them," Evans said.
The Tigers started the day off strong with a 5-under-par score at one point but finished the back nine with a score of 6-over-par.
Cydney Clanton had the low round of the day for Auburn with a score of 1-under-par 70.
Overall, Clanton tied for fourth place in the tournament with a score of 3-over-par 216.
Freshman Patricia Sanz tied for sixth place by scoring a 4-over-par 217 overall in the tournament.
With a score of 5-over-par 218, Candace Schepperle tied for tenth place.
Haley Wilson, a freshman, came in 12th place with a 6-over-par 219 overall.
And senior Mariana Macias tied for 54th place with a 27-over-par 240.
"There were some great, great teams out there playing, and we are just really excited about this win," Evans said. "We're going to enjoy this today, but we are going to prepare for NCAA Regionals. We've got a lot to work on."
The Auburn men's golf team also competed in the SEC Championship April 17-19 at the par-72, 7,331-yard Frederica Golf Club in Saint Simon Island, Ga.
Auburn placed 12th overall in the tournament with a score of 14-over-par 302. The No. 1 Georgia team claimed the SEC title with a score of 2-under-par 286.
"Obviously this isn't how we wanted to end the season," said Auburn head coach Mike Griffin. "I just hope our freshmen grew up and understand what it takes to play golf in the SEC. They gained a lot of experience this year, and that will help us in the future."
Overall in the tournament, freshman Kyle Kopsick (74-75-75--224) tied for 37th place, junior Cole Moreland (76-75-75--227) tied for 43rd place, senior Glenn Northcutt (74-77-77--228) tied for 47th place, and freshman Will McCurdy (79-75-75--229) and senior Keith White (77-74-78--229) both tied for 49th place.
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