The Florida women’s golf team got back to business on Friday, landing in third place after the first round of their annual home tournament, the SunTrust Gator Invitational.
The Gators are coming off of a shaky performance in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, where the team finished tied for 10th place. But the team is in prime position to win its third consecutive SunTrust Invitational.
Through the first round, no team has shot under par. Oklahoma leads the pack, shooting five over par (285), just one stroke ahead of reigning national champion Alabama (+6, 286).
“The golf course is tough in general,” coach Emily Bastel said.
“There’s only a couple of par fives, and so scores tend to be a little bit higher here in general. The greens make the course difficult, which is great, but it also makes it tougher… we like the fact that we play a hard golf course day in and day out. I think in the long run it helps us.”
Camilla Hedberg, who is looking for her fourth individual victory this season, leads the Gators after tying for third and shooting a team-low 69 (-1). Hedberg has taken the next step in her sophomore year and has not finished worse than tied for 19th.
A pleasant surprise for Florida was the play of junior transfer Elcin Ulu, who is tied for 10th. Ulu has struggled at times this season but shot a 71 (+1) in the first round.
“I played very good,” Ulu said. “I started very good.
“I didn’t try very hard today, I was like ‘Okay, just make the shot and go to the next one.’ I just hit my shot; it was very good. I hit it pretty solid, I just made some mistakes out there but it was fine. I made a few birdies, which helped me a lot, and I finished at one over which was a very nice start for me.”
Seniors Mia Piccio and Isabelle Lendl are both playing in the final home tournament of their careers. Piccio sits tied for 20th after shooting a 73 (+3), while Lendl played uncharacteristically, shooting a 76 (+6) and tying for 39th.
Freshman Ursa Orehek tied for 57th after shooting a 78 (+8). Orehek hasn’t played since January because of injury.
The second round will continue tomorrow, and the final round is on Sunday.
Senior Isabelle Lendl chips a shot onto the green. Lendl finished tied for 32nd at the Bryan National Collegiate this weekend.
