For the second season in a row, the Florida women’s golf team won’t be advancing to the NCAA Championships.
Through the first two rounds of the NCAA East Regional, the Gators sat in eighth place at +5, and were in good position to advance to the NCAA Championships in Wilmington, N.C.
However, the team faded out of contention in the final round, shooting a +21 (309) and finishing 11th in the field of 24 teams.
The Gators got off to a good start Thursday at the Ironwood Golf Club in Greenville, N.C., combining for a four-under (284).
Freshmen Mia Piccio and Isabelle Lendl led the team in the first round, as each shot three-under par to help the team finish the round in fifth place on the leaderboard.
The final two rounds of the regional weren’t as kind to the Gators, though, as they tallied a plus-nine Friday before unraveling in the third round.
During Saturday’s final round, Piccio again found herself leading the Gators, this time with a plus-two.
Unfortunately for Florida, no other golfer finished the final round better than plus-five – Lendl shot a plus-five, and sophomores Marika Lendl, Andrea Watts and Evan Jensen finished at plus-six, plus-eight and plus-nine, respectively.
The Gators finished their regional at +26 and ended their season with a 54-hole score of 890 (284-297-209).
The men’s team was also in action Thursday, as it participated in the Golden Ocala Invitational against North Florida, Florida State, Central Florida and South Florida.
The Gators took home the event title behind a 12-under from junior Andres Echavarria (65-67), and the team finished at 31-under (272-273). UNF finished second with a two-under, 574 (288-286).
Internet reports contributed to this article.
