For Evan Jensen and Andrea Watts, this year’s postseason couldn’t be more significant to them. The seniors have a chance to wrap up their collegiate career with an appearance in the NCAA Championships.
After the end of the first round of the NCAA East Regional complete, they may get that opportunity. Both seniors were able to put together two solid rounds of 72 (E) to put the Gators in third place.
“I am very happy that our seniors were able to lead us off today,” coach Jan Dowling said. “[Watts] struggled a bit off the tee, but was able to rely on her short game to shoot a good score. Evan also played a very solid round of golf.”
In addition to putting the team in the top ten, Jensen and Watts are both tied for sixth individually.
Junior Mia Piccio finished close behind the seniors carding a round of 74 (+2), which consisted of two birdies against two bogeys and a double bogey.
“We actually thought the scores of the entire field were going to be pretty low all weekend, but the conditions were tough today with it being cold and windy,” Dowling said.
Despite having a decent round, freshmen Camilla Hedberg shot about three strokes above her average of 73.26.
In addition to having an unusually high round, Hedberg also had a low number of birdies. The freshmen averages about 3 birdies per round, however Thursday she only had one birdie against five bogeys.
The Gators will begin round two only six strokes behind the leader South Carolina and two strokes behind second place Alabama.
“We are very happy with our start to the tournament,” Dowling said. “We played a very solid front nine, which was actually the back nine, turning at even par as a team. We weren't able to use that momentum as much as we would have liked going into our back nine. I'm positive we will figure it out as the tournament progresses.”
