The Auburn University equestrian team, which is cosponsored by the College of Agriculture, secured a first-place finish in the Southern Equestrian Championship in March with a final round total of 820.745, which was just ahead of Georgia’s 820.25 and South Carolina, who finished third with 805.      “We have been very close several times this season, but we just could not get it done,” says equestrian team head coach Greg Williams. “To win this meet like this is very special for me and the team. This is exactly what we needed going into nationals. Georgia and South Carolina will be some of our biggest competition at nationals as well, and for our girls to know they can ride with them is very important.”      Natalie Burton led AU in the hunt seat division with the Tigers’ high point ride of the day with 82 points, in the over fences class. Kelly Gottfried also added a 77 in the English equitation class.      The western division riders had a high score of 64 coming from Auburn’s Crystal Pope in the western equitation class.      The Tigers finish the season in April at the Varsity Nationals in Conyers, Ga. << top