KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Florida women’s golf team shaved nine strokes off its first-round score Saturday to move into fifth place at the Mercedes Benz Women’s Championships at Fox Den Country Club. The Gators had a second-round total of 8-over-par 296 for a 54-hole total of 23-over-par 599. The final round is scheduled for Sunday.
“I thought the team played great today under some tough conditions,” Florida coach Jan Dowling said. “I’m very proud of them. We are chipping away at the lead and putting ourselves in a good position for a great finish. I look forward to seeing what we can get done tomorrow.”
Freshman Isabelle Lendl of Bradenton carded an even-par 72 to lead the Gators for the second straight day. She had two birdies and two bogeys during her round on the par-72, 6,317-yard Fox Den circuit and is currently tied for ninth place at 2-over-par 146. A stroke behind her is junior Jessica Yadloczky of Casselberry shot a 1-over-par 73 that left her tied for 14th place at 3-over-par 147.
Sophomore Evan Jensen of Bellaire is tied for 9-over-par 153 (tied for 42nd place) after carding a 3-over-par 75 Saturday. Freshman Mia Piccio of Bacolod City, Philippines, also shot a 3-over 75 and was tied for 47th at 10-over-par 154. Sophomore Andrea Watts of Bradenton slipped to a 10-over-par 82 and was tied for 83rd at 16-over 160.
MERCEDES BENZ WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Knoxville, Tenn., Fox Den Country Club (par 72, 6,317 yards)
Team scores: 1. Tennessee 574 (-2) 283-291; 2. Louisville 582 (+6) 296-286; 3. South Carolina 592 (+16) 302-290; 4. Kent State 596 (+20) 296-300; 5. Florida 599 (+23) 304-295; 6. Chattanooga 602 (+26) 300-302; 7. Mississippi 605 (+29) 309-296; 8. Notre Dame 606 (+30) 306-300; 9. Louisiana State 607 (+31) 305-301; T10. Texas Christian 609 (+33) 314-295 and North Carolina State 609 (+33) 302-307; 12. Wake Forest 610 (+34) 312-298; 13. Tulane 611 (+35) 304-307; 14. Arkansas 613 (+37) 304-309; 15. Furman 616 (+40) 310-306; 16. Ohio State 619 (+43) 306-313; 17. Texas-San Antonio 627 (+51) 309-318; 18. Kentucky 631 (+55) 322-309.
Individual leaders: 1. Sara-Maude Juneau (Louisville) 141 (-3) 72-69; T2. Nathalie Mansson (Tennessee) 142 (-2) 71-71 and Laura Anderson (Louisville) 142 (-2) 72-70; T4. Ginny Brown (Tennessee) 143 (-1) 70-73 and Diana Cantu (Tennessee) 143 (-1) 69-74; T6. Susana Benavides (Ohio State) 145 (+1) 71-74, Emma de Groot (Chattanooga) 145 (+1) 73-72 and Mandi Morrow (Kent State) 145 (+1) 71-74.
Florida scores: T9. Isabelle Lendl 146 (+2) 74-72; T14. Jessica Yadloczky 147 (+3) 74-73; T42. Evan Jensen 153 (+9) 78-75; T47. Mia Piccio 154 (+10) 79-75; T83. Andrea Watts 160 (+16) 78-82.