The
Florida women’s golf team’s chances of reaching the NCAA
Championships may rest on a scant three-hole stretch.
The
Gators shot a team score of 297 (+9) in Friday’s second round of
the NCAA East Regional. Their two-day total of 595 (+19) currently
sits them in the all-important eighth position on the
leaderboard.
But
Florida is playing the 135-yard par-3 third hole in a combined
8-over through two rounds. UF has also struggled with the first and
fourth holes, shooting a collective 11-over so far.
“It
was literally three bad holes for our team,” coach Jan Dowling
said. “But if you take the stuff before and after that, for us to
finish where we are, is obviously pretty good stuff.”
Senior Jessica Yadloczky, who will be turning pro after the season,
rebounded from a 4-over 76 on Thursday with a steady 1-over 73 on
Friday.
Junior Evan Jensen carded a 4-over 76, impressive considering she
made a quadruple-bogey 7 at No. 3 — the same hole that gave
Isabelle Lendl problems Thursday.
Lendl, Thursday’s best Gator golfer, followed up an opening 72 with
a 6-over-par 78 on Friday. In contrast, junior Andrea Watts, who
opened with a 5-over-par 77, paced Florida in round two with an
even-par 72 including four birdies.
The
Gators combined for 13 birdies on Friday and Dowling said the team
must remain patient and focused because the course can yield some
low scores.
“We’re definitely making birdies, so that means we’re doing some
really good things,” Dowling said.
The
only Florida golfer to remain consistent has been Mia Piccio, even
though the sophomore’s back-to-back rounds of 75 and 74 are above
her season average of 73.89.
But
there are seven teams within eight shots of Florida, all vying for
a spot in the championship round. Quality teams including No. 16
Auburn, No. 18 Michigan State and No. 23 Vanderbilt are all well
within striking distance with one round left to play.
“We’re just going to focus on what we need to do — that’s what we
can control anyway — and stay patient, stay positive and do what we
do best,” Dowling said.
Dowling pointed to the last round at the Liz Murphey Collegiate
Classic, where Florida shot a 5-under 283, and UF’s sustained
success at the SunTrust Gator Women’s Golf Invitational as evidence
her team knows how to finish.
“We
won by 17 shots at our home event, that proves we can do it for
three days,” Dowling said. “And we can certainly do it one day for
(Saturday’s final round).”
