KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Florida finished in seventh place after Sunday’s final round in the 2009 Mercedes-Benz Women’s Collegiate Golf Championships hosted by the Tennessee women’s golf team at the Fox Den Country Club.
The host Volunteers finished first with a three-round total of 4-over-par 868 following a closing 6-over 294. Louisville was second at 887, 23 strokes behind. Florida closed with a 15-over 303 third round and a 38-over 902 total.
“I’m obviously disappointed with where we finished,” Florida head coach Jan Dowling said. “We had a good thing going yesterday and we got off to a good start today. But in the middle of the round, they just fell off the train a little and could not recover. But I’ll tell you what – this team is really talented. They just need to believe in themselves and work hard. That’s what it comes down to – belief and getting better in their short game.”
Playing in her first stroke-play tournament, freshman Isabelle Lendl of Bradenton shot a 1-over-par 73 Sunday and finished at 3-over-par 219, good for an eighth-place tie in the individual competition. She finished six strokes behind tournament co-medalists Laura Anderson of Louisville, who closed with a 1-under-par 71 and a 3-under-par total of 213, and Nathalie Mansson of Tennessee, who shot her third straight 71.
“I’m really proud of Isabelle,” Dowling continued. “The golf course played tough all week and she managed the heck out of her game. She played really smart golf and never got ahead of herself. She should be proud of herself and I know this is only a sign of things to come from her.”
Junior Jessica Yadloczky of Casselberry shot a 4-over-par 76 for a 7-over total of 223 that left her tied for 15th. Sophomore Evan Jensen of Belleair shot a 2-over 74 and finished at 11-over 227, tied for 29th. Freshman Mia Piccio of the Philippines shot an 8-over-par 80 and finished tied for 66th at 234. Sophomore Andrea Watts finished the scoring for Florida with an 83-243.
The Gators travel to Las Vegas, Nev., Oct. 26-28 for their final fall tournament, the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown.
MERCEDES-BENZ WOMEN’S COLLEGIATE GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
At Knoxville, Tenn., Fox Den Country Club (par 72, 6,317 yards)
Team scores: 1. Tennessee 868 (+4) 283-291-294; 2. Louisville 887 (+23) 296-286-305; 3. South Carolina 889 (+25) 302-290-297; 4. Kent State 897 (+33) 296-300-301; 5. Wake Forest 899 (+35) 312-298-289; 6. Texas Christian 900 (+36) 314-295-291; 7. Florida 902 (+38) 304-295-303; 8. Chattanooga 907 (+43) 300-302-305; 9. Notre Dame 908 (+44) 306-300-302; 10. Mississippi 909 (+45) 309-296-304; T11. North Carolina State 910 (+46) 302-307-301, Louisiana State 910 (+46) 305-301-303); 13. Tulane 913 (+14) 304-307-302; 14. Arkansas 920 (+56) 304-309-307; 15. Ohio State 921 (+57) 306-313-302; 16. Furman 928 (+64) 310-306-312; 17. Kentucky 937 (+73) 322-309-306; 18. Texas-San Antonio 948 (+84) 309-318-321.
Individuals: T1. Laura Anderson (Louisville) 72-70-71—213 (-3) and Nathalie Mansson (Tennessee) 71-71-71; 3. Ginny Brown (Tennessee) 70-73-72—215 (-1); 4. Sara-Maude Juneau (Louisville) 72-69-75—216 (E); T6. Susana Benavides (Ohio State) 71-74-73—218 (+2) and Cheyenne Woods (Wake Forest) 76-70-72—218 (+2); T8. Isabelle Lendl (Florida) 74-72-73—219 (+3) and Diana Cantu (Tennessee) 69-74-76—219 (+3); 10. Brooke Beeler (Texas Christian) 76-70-74-220 (+4).
Florida scores: T8. Isabelle Lendl 74-72-73—219 (+3); T15. Jessica Yadloczky 74-73-76—213 (+7); T29. Evan Jensen 78-75-74—227 (+11); T66. Mia Piccio 79-75-80—234 (+18); T85. Andrea Watts 78-82-83—243 (+27).