No. 6 Auburn closed its week at one of college golf’s toughest regular-season events with signs of progress, but also a clear sense that more is still within reach.
Competing at the Charles Schwab Women’s Collegiate Invitational, hosted by TCU at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, the Tigers finished 10th at 36-over-par 876 after posting their best round of the tournament on Tuesday.
Auburn’s 9-over 289 in the final round offered a glimpse of what the lineup is capable of when everything goes right. For much of the front nine, the Tigers steadily climbed the leaderboard, gaining ground in a field widely considered one of the deepest in women’s college golf, a tournament TCU itself has described as a premier, “major-like” event. But as quickly as Auburn surged, the back nine proved unforgiving.
“Today we posted a better team score, which is a step in the right direction, but we’re still disappointed to have counted a couple of high rounds,” said Auburn head coach Melissa Luellen. “We did a great job climbing the leaderboard on the front nine, then faced some challenges coming in on the back.”
That push-and-pull defined Auburn’s week at Colonial, a course known for demanding precision and punishing mistakes.
Auburn’s freshman Charlotte Cantonis provided one of the Tigers' strongest performances. Playing with confidence in the final round, she fired a 1-under 69 with three birdies, her sixth round under par this season, to lead the Tigers on Tuesday. Cantonis finished tied for 26th at 8-over 218.
Additionally, for the Tigers, junior Anna Davis continued to deliver consistency across all three rounds, pacing the Tigers with a tie for 19th at 7-over 217. Her even-par 70 on Tuesday, highlighted by four birdies, marked her best round of the tournament and her eighth top-20 finish this season.
Behind its leading duo, Auburn’s lineup showed flashes but struggled to sustain momentum. Molly Brown Davidson carded a 75 to finish at 12-over, while Katie Cranston matched that score in the final round. Carys Worby and individual competitor Anne Fernandez rounded out the Tigers’ performances.
The event, hosted by TCU, brought together a strong field loaded with top-ranked programs, testing every team’s depth and consistency. The Horned Frogs, playing on their home course, were part of a highly competitive group chasing No. 1 Stanford, which ultimately claimed the team title at 8-over.
For Auburn, the takeaway from this tournament was less about where they finished,and more about how they finished. There were stretches, especially early in the final round, where the Tigers looked capable of making a significant move, but closing out rounds remains a top priority as postseason play approaches.
“Now it’s about resetting, getting some rest and getting back to work,” Luellen said.
Auburn will send individuals to the Georgia State Invitational next before turning its attention to the SEC Championship, where the lessons from Colonial, both the momentum and the missed opportunities, will impact their game moving forward.
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Sarah is a sophomore majoring in public relations. She started with The Plainsman in the spring of 2025.
