SMU Women's Golf Defies Brutal Winds, Crushes Auburn in Standings

SMU women's golf didn't let Mother Nature ruin its final tournament of the fall season. The Mustangs battled fierce winds Sunday to finish fifth at the Landfall Tradition, outperforming several nationally ranked programs, including No. 2 Auburn.

Competing at the Country Club of Landfall's Pete Dye Course, SMU finished the 54-hole event at 23-over-par 887, securing a top-five result in an 18-team field that featured some of college golf's best programs.

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Head coach Lauren Mason's squad finished ahead of No. 25 Kentucky, No. 2 Auburn and No. 19 Alabama, while coming within a single stroke of fourth-place No. 17 Florida State.

The Mustangs entered Sunday's final round in second place before punishing winds sent scores climbing across the leaderboard.

Despite slipping three positions, SMU demonstrated the depth and consistency that have become trademarks of its fall campaign.

Leading the way was Yoonjeong Huh, who delivered the best individual finish of her collegiate career.

The South Korean golfer finished tied for ninth at 4-over 220, highlighted by an impressive second-round 70 that briefly put her among the tournament's championship contenders.

Huh's closing 77 wasn't enough to maintain her position near the top, but it secured her first career top-10 finish.

Senior Celine Chen also made an impact, finishing tied for 14th at 5-over 221.

The Australian produced a final-round 74, recording three birdies while navigating the difficult conditions. Her performance was particularly valuable as scoring became increasingly challenging throughout the afternoon.

Grace Jin contributed another solid tournament, tying for 23rd at 7-over 223. Jin closed with a 77 that included two front-nine birdies.

Kirra St-Laurent finished tied for 30th at 9-over 225, while Maelynn Kim tied for 41st at 11-over 227.

The Mustangs' ability to place two golfers inside the top 15 helped keep them competitive against the tournament's elite programs.

Sixth-ranked Duke claimed the team championship at 5-over, finishing eight strokes ahead of No. 1 Wake Forest and No. 7 South Carolina, which tied for second at 13-over.

Duke's Rianne Malixi captured individual medalist honors at 12-under, winning by nine strokes.

For SMU, the fifth-place finish provides another encouraging result as the program heads into its winter break.

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The Mustangs also placed fifth among a stacked national field despite Sunday's conditions, and their victory over several ranked opponents should provide confidence heading into the spring schedule.

After all, surviving a brutally windy Sunday while beating the nation's second-ranked team isn't a bad way to end the fall.