BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. – Another day of improvement allowed the Florida Gators women’s golf team to climb into eighth place after the final round of the Southeastern Conference Women’s Golf Championship at the Cobblestone Park Golf Club.
Coach Jill Briles-Hinton’s team shot a 9-over-par 293 that left the Gators in solo eighth place with a 54-hole total of 895 (+43). Florida opened with a 307 total Friday and improved to 295 Saturday.
“The team really had it going this morning,” Briles-Hinton said. “We just didn’t finish and bring it home. The squad got nervous coming in, but I am proud of their performance. They showed they can do it.”
Sophomore Jessica Yadloczky of Casselberry shot a 3-over-par 74 to finish at 4-over-par 217. That tied her for sixth place, seven strokes behind individual champion Marta Silva of Georgia, who closed with an even-par 71 for 3-under 210.
“Jessica had another good performance,” Briles-Hinton said. “It could have been a great round if she made a couple more putts. I know that she is disappointed with her finish, but she will come back strong in the next tournament.”
Freshman Evan Jensen of Belleair had a second consecutive 1-over-par 72 to close with a 10-over-par total of 223 that placed her 25th.
But the round of the day for the Gators belonged to redshirt sophomore Lauren Uzelatz of Lakeland. After shooting a pair of 78s to open the tournament, Uzelatz shot a career-best, 2-under-par 69 for a career-best total of 12-over-par 225 that left her tied for 29th place.
“Lauren is very capable of shooting low numbers for us,” Briles-Hinton added. “She is a talented young lady who is just beginning to break through.”
Freshman Andrea Watts of Bradenton shot a final-round 78 that left her in 43rd place. Redshirt sophomore Nicole Schachner of Libertyville, Ill., finished with a final-round 80 for 235 that left her tied for 47th place.
Auburn shot a final-round, 1-over-par 285 for a 54-hole total of 870 and an 8-stroke victory over Arkansas and Alabama.
Florida now awaits the NCAA Regionals May 7-9. The Gators are one of three hosts (Arizona State and Ohio State the others).
SEC WOMEN’S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. – Results after Sunday’s final round at the par-71, 6,204-yard Cobblestone Park Golf Club in the Southeastern Conference Women’s Golf Tournament hosted by the University of South Carolina:
Team scores: 1. Auburn 870 (289-296-285) (+18); T2. Arkansas 878 (295-287-296) (+26) and Alabama 878 (300-291-287) (+26); 4. Tennessee 881 (295-293-293) (+29); 5. Louisiana State 886 (301-286-299) (+34); 6. Georgia 887 (300-292-295) (+35); 7. Mississippi 890 (301-298-291) (+38); 8. Florida 895 (307-295-293) (+43); 9. South Carolina 897 (296-300-298) (+45); 10. Vanderbilt 915 (304-301-310) (+63); 11. Kentucky 918 (313-297-308) (+66); 12. Mississippi State 930 (314-307-305) (+78).
Individual Top 10: 1. Marta Silva (Georgia) 72-67-71—210 (-3); 2. Benedicte Toumpsin (South Carolina) 72-69-73—214 (+1); 3. Mallory Hetzel (Georgia) 73-70-72—215 (+2); T4. Cydney Clanton (Auburn) 71-75-70—216 (+3) and Kristin Ingram (Arkansas) 73-70-73—216 (+3); T6. Jessica Yadloczky (Florida) 72-71-74—216 (+3), Ginny Brown (Tennessee) 74-72-71—217 (+4), Lucy Nunn (Arkansas) 70-70-77—217 (+4) and Patricia Sanz (Auburn) 77-69-71—217 (+4); T10. Brooke Pancake (Alabama) 78-71-69—218 (+5) and Candace Schepperle (Auburn) 71-74-73—218 (+5).
Florida results: T6. Jessica Yadloczky 72-71-74—217 (+4); 25. Evan Jensen 79-72-72—223 (+10); T29. Lauren Uzelatz 78-78-69—225 (+12); 43. Andrea Watts 79-75-78—232 (+19); T47. Nicole Schachner 78-77-80—235 (+22).