The Gators women’s golf team is looking to rebound in the Bryan National Collegiate this weekend after falling just short of winning their home tournament, the SunTrust Gator Invitational, nearly two weeks ago.
The Collegiate, which takes place in Greensboro N.C., is a three-day-tournament that will see Florida facing a good amount of the Southeastern Conference. Arkansas, Auburn, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and Vanderbilt are competing.
“Despite the fact that we didn’t have the result we wanted at our home tournament a couple of weeks ago, I think we feel pretty good about how we’re playing,” coach Emily Bastel said.
“We’re taking the same five players that we started here at home, and it will be another good test. This tournament has a great field and a few SEC schools, so it will be a little preview of what we will see in a couple of weeks at the SEC Championship.”
Florida hopes to have a different outcome from the SunTrust Gator Invitational, where the team held a two-stroke lead in the final round before eventually falling to Alabama.
Despite the fact that the Gators were unable to walk away with any type of title, there were improvements all-around in terms of individual performances. Junior transfer Elcin Ulu played up to her potential after finishing tied for 6th (215).
Freshman Ursa Orehek also showed promising signs after playing in her first tournament since suffering an injury. Orehek started slow but shot a 74 (+4) and 75 (+5) to finish tied for 44th.
The key to the tournament will be the play of sophomore Camilla Hedberg. Hedberg has finished in the top ten in all but two tournaments this year and is seeking her fifth individual title on the season.
Florida may have won the SunTrust Invitational if not for one uncharacteristic hole from Hedberg. She tied for ninth in the tournament after shooting a quadruple bogey on the 17th hole in the second round. Florida ended up finishing third, five strokes behind champion Alabama.
The Bryan National Collegiate will also be the final regular-season tournament for seniors Mia Piccio and Isabelle Lendl. The tournament begins today and is the last competition the Gators will face until the SEC Championship on April 19 - 21.
Senior Isabelle Lendl chips a shot onto the green. Lendl finished tied for 32nd at the Bryan National Collegiate this weekend.
