Host Florida finds itself in third place after Monday’s first two rounds of the 37th SunTrust Lady Gator Invitational at the Mark Bostick Golf Course. Florida was at 606, trailing co-leaders Duke and Alabama by three strokes heading into Tuesday’s final round. Florida is seeking its fourth straight Lady Gator title and its 17th overall.
Florida coach Jill Briles-Hinton’s team recorded rounds of 304 and 302 on the par-70, 5,954-yard course. Duke, ranked No. 10 in the latest GolfWeek women’s college rankings, opened with a 298 and followed with a 305. Alabama, ranked seventh, shot 302 in the morning and 301 in the afternoon.
The Gators were five strokes ahead of fourth-place Auburn, the No. 6 team in the latest poll. The Tigers had rounds of 306 and 305.
“The conditions were tough,” Briles-Hinton said. “We started out with an irritating rain and then the wind poured in. I felt that the girls were a little tight today, which is due in part to the youthfulness of our team. But after a rocky start, the squad fought back hard.”
Freshman Andrea Watts of Bradenton led Florida after shooting a pair of 74s for an 8-over-par 148 total. That left her tied for fifth. Alabama’s Kathleen Ekey and Florida State’s Whitney Wenglasz share the individual lead at 4-over-par 144.
Watts was followed by sophomore Jessica Yadloczky, who shot a pair of 75s for 150, good for a ninth-place tie. Following Yadloczky is freshman Evan Jensen, who is tied for 13th at 151 after rounds of 79 (morning) and 72.
Redshirt sophomore Nicole Schachner was at 157 (T40) after rounds of 76 and 81. Making her first appearance for the Gators was freshman Marika Lendl of Bradenton, who was at 167 (T74) after rounds of 81 and 86. Lauren Uzelatz is competing as an individual and was tied for 22nd place at 154 following rounds of 73 and 81.
“We left a lot out there,” Briles-Hinton said. “We are looking forward to getting back and attempting to pull off the win.”
The final round begins at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday with a shotgun start.
SUNTRUST LADY GATOR INVITATIONAL
Results after Monday’s first two rounds in the 37th SunTrust Lady Gator Invitational at the par-70, 5,954-yard Mark Bostick Golf Course at the University of Florida:
Team scores: T1. Duke 603 (298-305) and Alabama 603 (302-301); 3. Florida 606 (304-302); 4. Auburn 611 (306-305); 5. Georgia State 612 (307-305); 6. Northwestern 615 (304-311); 7. Florida State 619 (320-299); 8. Washington 621 (309-312); T9. Furman 623 (307-316) and South Florida 623 (307-316); 11. Florida International 624 (313-311); 12. Coastal Carolina 628 (309-319); 13. Campbell 630 (306-324); 14. Brigham Young 635 (313-322); 15. Georgetown 646 (314-332); 16. Florida Atlantic 650 (324-326).
Individuals: T1. Kathleen Ekey (Alabama) 73-71—144 and Whitney Wenglasz (FSU) 74-70—144; 3. Amanda Blumenherst (Duke) 70-75—145; 4. Molly Aronsson (Washington) 74-72—146; T5. Paula Hurtado (FIU) 73-75—148, Andrea Watts (Florida) 74-74—148 and Alison Whitaker (Duke) 74-74—148; 8. Anna Scott (Georgia State) 73-76—149; T9. Camilla Lennarth (Alabama) 78-72—150, Charlotte Lorentzen (Georgia State) 76-74—150 and Jessica Yadloczky (Florida) 75-75—150; T12. Evan Jensen (Florida) 79-72—151 and Gennifer Mendez (South Florida) 73-78—151.
Florida scores: T5. Andrea Watts 74-74—148; T9. Jessica Yadloczky 75-75—150; T12. Evan Jensen 79-72—151; T40. Nicole Schachner 76-81—157; T74. Marika Lendl 81-86—167; T22. Lauren Uzelatz 73-81—154. (Uzelatz is competing as an individual).