Heading into its third tournament of the season, the UF women’s golf team is hoping this is the week they break out.
Looking at the results thus far, it would appear the team has performed well – the Gators finished 2nd at the TPC at Sawgrass and 5th in Charleston at the Cougar Classic – but coach Jan Dowling believes the best is yet to come.
“They haven’t all played well together at the same time,” coach Dowling said. “If they can do that this week, I think they’re going to see what they’re capable of.”
The No. 19 Gators will have that opportunity today when first round play begins at the Mason Rudolph Women’s Championship hosted by Vanderbilt University.
Dowling said this weekend’s 54-hole tournament gives her team a chance to measure itself against some of the best teams in the country.
Six Southeastern Conference teams, including No. 4 Alabama and No. 6 Auburn, and eight of the current top-10 teams in the country, will be in the lineup in Nashville, Tenn.
“If you’re competing against the best in the SEC, then you’re competing against the best in the country,” Dowling said.
She’s right.
The SEC boasts five schools ranked in the top-15 and had three of the top-5 finishers at last weekend’s NCAA Fall Preview. Each of those teams – Alabama, LSU and Georgia – will compete at the par-72, 6,281-yard Legends Club North Course.
Only two of the 18 participating teams are not currently ranked in the top-25.
In order to secure a strong finish, the Gators will need another strong performance from sophomore standout Mia Piccio.
Piccio finished tied for sixth individually at the Cougar Classic and leads the Gators with a 73.0 scoring average.
“She dedicates her whole life to the sport of golf,” Dowling said. “And because of that, she is reaping the rewards.”
She will play first in the rotation for the third consecutive tournament.
Apart from Piccio, UF will feature its most experienced lineup with senior Jessica Yadloczky, and juniors Marika Lendl, Evan Jensen and Andrea Watts, making the trip.
Jensen joined Piccio in the top-10 in Charleston with an eighth place finish at even par.
“We’re focusing on being absolutely prepared the best way possible.” Dowling said. “We’re learning to get better each and every week.”
The Gators have emphasized putting and the short game in practice recently and hope the extra work will result in lower scores, Dowling said.
Should this be the week the entire team plays well, Dowling believes the results will mirror an outing from last season.
“We won by 29 shots,” she said.
