ATHENS, Ga. – Sophomore Evan Jensen carded a 4-over-par 76 Friday to lead the No. 12 Florida women’s golf team to a sixth-place standing after the first day of the 38th Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic at the par-72, 6,335-yard University of Georgia Golf Course.
“(Friday) was a tough day,” Florida coach Jan Dowling said. “It was really windy and the course was challenging without the difficult conditions. I think the team has bitter taste in their mouths but at the same time we are not in a bad position. We still have two more days of golf and we need to go out there and take care of the basics.”
The Gators’ five golfers totaled 314, which was 14 shots behind first-round leader, fourth-ranked Duke. The Blue Devils, led by first-round leader Lindy Duncan’s 2-under-par 70, were 10 shots ahead of three teams – No. 2 Auburn, No. 13 Purdue and No. 34 North Carolina – that totaled 310. No. 39 Arkansas was solo fifth after the first round with its 312 total, two strokes ahead of the Gators and No. 14 Michigan State in the 23-team field.
Jensen’s 76 left her tied for 12th place. Another shot back was Marika Lendl, who was tied for 22nd place. Freshman Mia Piccio shot a 79 that left her tied for 32nd place. Freshman Isabelle Lendl shot 82 and freshman Megan Pak 84 for the Gators.
The 54-hole tournament concludes Sunday.
LIZ MURPHEY COLLEGIATE CLASSIC
At par-72, 6,335-yard University of Georgia G.C., Athens
TEAM: 1. (4) Duke 300 (+12); T2. (34) North Carolina, (13) Purdue and (2) Auburn 310 (+22); 5. (39) Arkansas 312 (+24); T6. (14) Michigan State and (12) Florida 314 (+26); 8. (21) Ohio State 315 (+27); T9. (9) Wake Forest and (6) Alabama 316 (+28); 11. (11) Tennessee 318 (+30); 12. (31) Tulane 319 (+31); T13. (33) Kent State and (15) Virginia 320 (+32); T15. (20) Denver and (16) Georgia 321 (+33); 17. (46) Georgia State 322 (+34); 18. (47) Furman 323 (+35); 19. (27) South Carolina 324 (+36); 20. (50) Mississippi 327 (+39); 21. (16) Georgia B 329 (+41); 22. UCF 330 (+42); 23. Mississippi State 342 (+54).
INDIVIDUALS (Top 10 and ties): 1. (11) Lindy Duncan (Duke) 70 (-2); T2. (61) Calle Nielson (Virginia), (24) Marta Silva Zamora (Georgia) and (34) Cheyenne Woods (Wake Forest) 74 (+2); T5. Kim Donovan (Duke), Valentina Fontaine (UCF), Martina Gavier (Kent State), Courtney Gunter (North Carolina), (32) Maude-Aimee LeBlanc (Purdue), (95) In Hong Lim (Ohio State) and (38) Brooke Pancake (Alabama) 75 (+3).
FLORIDA SCORES: T12. Evan Jensen 76 (+4); T22. Marika Lendl 77 (+5); T32. Mia Piccio 79 (+7); T66. Isabelle Lendl 82 (+10); T92. Megan Pak 84 (+12).