"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px;">
Entering Saturday’s final round
of the NCAA East Regional, the future of the Florida women’s golf
team’s season was in doubt — as many as eight teams had a
legitimate shot at the coveted eighth and final spot in the NCAA
Championships.
But
despite numerous teams nipping at UF’s heels, coach Jan Dowling
said her squad knew how to finish, and she was right.
The
Gators shot 285 (-3), the lowest score of the day, in Saturday’s
final round at the Legends Course at LPGA International in Daytona
Beach, finishing in seventh and 10 shots ahead of Vanderbilt and
Florida State.
“It
was nice to be able to relax and have lunch and enjoy the
afternoon, that’s for sure,” Dowling said.
Florida avoided a playoff situation, one where Vandy beat FSU for
the final spot in the championship.
“We
knew we had to play well,” Dowling said. “And they stepped up and
did what they needed to do.”
Sophomore Isabelle Lendl bounced back from a 78 on Friday with the
low score of the day on Saturday, a 4-under 68.
Dowling said Lendl, who set a school record for a single round in
an NCAA Regional, retained her confidence despite Friday’s sub-par
round. Lendl struggled with her short game Friday, a round
featuring some of the sophomore’s worst putting of the season. But
the short stick was working in the final round, as Lendl rolled in
a lengthy putt for par on No. 10, retaining her momentum after
dropping a shot at No. 9.
Also under par on Saturday was sophomore Mia Piccio, who chipped in
for birdie on No. 9 — one of three birdies in a bogey-less final
round of 69 (-3). Piccio and Lendl tied for 11th in the individual
standings with a three-day total of 218 (+2).
Junior Andrea Watts sandwiched birdies at No. 4 and No. 6 between
bogeys at No. 1 and No. 8, but from there on in it was smooth
sailing. Watts parred every hole on the back nine to shoot
back-to-back rounds of 72 (E).
Evan Jensen was 4-over after just four holes but held it together
to finish at 76 (+4), while senior Jessica Yadloczky fired a 6-over
78.
After hovering around the cutoff mark all weekend, Dowling said the
overall depth of her team is what helped them advance.
“Our three rounds for the weekend were a true team effort,” she
said. “Someone different stepped up when we needed it.
“We’re going to … put a good game plan together and just work our
butts off and see what we can do at nationals. We really have a
great chance to get into contention there, especially after the
spring we’ve had.”
The
NCAA Championships begin May 18 in College Station, Texas, at the
Traditions Golf Club.
