Andrea Watts tied a season-best mark, but the first round of the Allstate Sugar Bowl was bittersweet for Florida.
Watts, a senior, shot a an even-par 72 to tie her best round of the season Sunday and she sits in a tie for sixth place individually following the opening round in New Orleans. However, Florida shot 12 over as a team and is tied for seventh at the English Turn Golf and Country Club.
“Andrea Watts really scored her golf ball today,” coach Jan Dowling said. “She didn’t hit the ball that great and managed to shoot even par. Today was huge for her confidence.”
After shooting even par through her first five holes, Watts birdied the sixth hole – a 476-yard par-five. However, the under-par score was short-lived, as Watts bogeyed two of her next five holes before rebounding with another birdie on the back nine to help save par on the day.
Monday marked the third time this season Watts shot a 72, and she is tied with USC's Doris Chen and a tandem of Baylor golfers, Chelsey Cothran and Hayley Davis, for a share of sixth place at the tournament.
While Watts managed to finish the round at even par, no other Florida player was able to break even on the day. Junior Mia Piccio shot a two-over 74 after she carded three bogeys against one birdie Sunday to earn a share of 14th place with a dozen other golfers.
Piccio bogeyed the par-three third hole and a pair of par fours on the back nine before sinking a birdie on 18.
Camila Hedberg, the Southeastern Conference Golfer of the Week, shot a five-over 77, as did senior Evan Jensen. Hedberg recorded two birdies against seven bogeys, including six on the back nine while Jensen carded one birdie and six bogeys as the two sit in 45th place.
Despite shooting 25 bogeys as a team Sunday, Dowling said it was a good sign that the Gators didn’t shoot a double-bogey or worse as the tournament’s top-12 teams enter the second round separated by just eight strokes.
“We need to do more of the same as far as course management and keep staying positive and capitalize on our birdie opportunities,” Dowling said “It’s a wide open field and there’s a lot that can still happen.”
