Gator Country

Florida freshman Camilla Hedberg, who leads UF with a six-over par after two days at the SEC Championship, tied for 2nd place during the Gators' win at the Suntrust Gator Women's Golf Invitational on March 18 at the Mark Bostick Golf Course in Gainesville. / Gator Country photo by Saj Guevara

The No. 15 University of Florida women’s golf team will enter the final round of the 2012 SEC Women’s Golf Championship in fourth place after a second round 305 (+17). The Gators have a two-day total of 612 (307-306,+36) at the Blessings Golf Club in Fayetteville, Ark. Freshman Camilla Hedberg (Sitges, Spain) leads the team with a 36-hole score of 150 (76-74, +6).

“It was OK today. We had some unforced errors and that part of the round is disappointing but we’re still in the mix and we still have an opportunity tomorrow and that’s really all you can ask for,” head coach Jan Dowling said. “I’m excited about the fact that we have one more shot at this golf course tomorrow. The hopes are the best round is saved for last.”

Hedberg carded three birdies against three bogeys and one double-bogey on her way to a two-over 74 during round two. The freshman is tied for sixth entering the final day.

“My putting is working a little better and I’m happy with my round today. It’s a very tough course,” said Hedberg

“The biggest thing is just to be patient. The thing is when you get into trouble, you have to get out of trouble as soon as possible. A bogey works fine and just go to the next hole and the birdies will eventually come. The biggest thing is to remain patient,” Hedberg explained about playing at Blessings Golf Club.

“Camilla just kept hanging in there and that’s what you have to do on this golf course. You have to be really tough. She ended up making birdie on her last hole,” Dowling explained. “You’ve got to stay strong and keep your head on your shoulders on this golf course and she was obviously able to do that.”

Junior Mia Piccio (Bacolod City, Philippines), tied for the tournament lead with 25 pars, holds a tournament score of 153 (+9) after her second round two-over 74. Piccio had one birdie against three bogeys during round two. The junior is tied for 18th entering the final round.

“Mia was two-over and had no big numbers today which says a lot,” Dowling said about the Piccio “She hit it very solid today and I’m very happy for her because she’s doing everything right and has for a long time and her scoring hasn’t quite come together for her the last couple of tournaments. She feels pretty good about her ball-striking and should take that same mentality into tomorrow’s round.”

Seniors Evan Jensen (Belleair, Fla.) and Andrea Watts (Bradenton, Fla.) both claimed spots in the top-30 after round two. Jensen, tied for 28th, has carded a two-day total of 156 (77-79, +12) while Watts, in 30th-place, has a 36-hole total of 157 (79-78, +13).

Rounding out Florida’s lineup, junior Isabelle Lendl (Goshen, Conn.) handed in a second round 86 to give her a tournament total of 161 (+17). Lendl is tied for 42nd.

Fifth ranked Auburn, with tournament total of 603 (+27), leads tournament host Arkansas by one stroke. Patricia Sanz of Auburn, who held the lead after round one, sits atop of the individual leaderboard through 36 holes with a 142 (69-73, -2).

“Anything can happen when you play this golf course, both good and bad,” said Dowling. “Nine shots is not a whole lot on this course and a lot of good things can happen if you hit good solid shots and ignore the visually intimidating parts of the course, it is very score-able. We have to remain patient and remain emotionally unattached to the result of every shot. I feel like nothing spectacular has happened for us yet and were still just nine shots back heading into the last day.”

Tee times begin at 9 a.m. ET tomorrow on holes one and 12. Lendl will tee off first for the Gators on hole one at 9 a.m. ET with the rest of the team following in 10-minute increments on the same hole.

For live scoring throughout the tournament visit golfstat.com.

Courtesy UF Communications