The No. 5 Florida women’s golf team has battled through tough competition through the first two rounds of the SunTrust Gator Invitational to set themselves up for a win in their annual home tournament.
The Gators sat in third place after the first round but managed to move up to be tied for second (582, +22), just three strokes back of leader Alabama (579, +19).
“We didn’t get many putts to fall today, but I think it’s positive that we still hung in there as well as we did despite that,” coach Emily Bastel said.
“The golf course is playing really tough and they did a good job of staying patient, and they played hard to the end. That’s really all I can ask.”
The Gators got solid performances out of every player, especially from junior transfer Elcin Ulu. Ulu has struggled at times this season, but has shot a 71 (+1) and 73 (+3) and is tied for 7th after two rounds.
Mia Piccio, one of two seniors playing in her final home tournament, has shot a 73 (+3) in both rounds so far. Piccio capitalized her day by ending 18 on a birdie, her only birdie on the day.
“[The birdie] was great,” Piccio said. “Eighteen is a hard hole and it’s always nice to birdie it, especially to end the round. I was hitting it really good; I’ve been hitting it really good the past two days. I just have to make more putts out there; I left a lot out there.
Florida may have been in the lead after two rounds if not for a mishap by sophomore Camilla Hedberg. Hedberg had been sitting near the top of the leader board for almost the entire tournament until she shot a quadruple-bogey on 17 to shoot a 77 (+7) for the round.
Isabelle Lendl saw a three-stroke improvement in her play after shooting a 73 (+3) in the second round to tie for 27th. The senior captain was paired with her sister Daniela Lendl, who plays for Alabama, for the round.
The last starter for Florida was freshman Ursa Orehek who had the largest improvement in score from the first round to the second. Orehek shot a 78 (+8) in the first round but dropped down to a 74 (+4) in the second round to tie for 43rd.
If Lendl and Hedberg are both able to play at the level that they are accustomed to, Florida may be able to comeback against Alabama and win its third consecutive SunTrust Gator Invitational. The championship round will be held Sunday.
UF golfer Mia Piccio carries her bag at the Betsy Rawls Invitational on Nov. 2, 2011. Piccio carded a 73 (+1) in Florida's first round at the NCAA Championships on Tuesday at the UGA Golf Course.
