KNOXVILLE, Tenn.- University of Florida women’s golf team finished with their second top-10 finish of the 2011 fall season with an eighth-place finish at the 2011 SEC/PAC-12 Challenge in Knoxville, Tenn. As a team, UF posted a final round score of 296 to give them a tournament total of 893 (+29).
“We obviously came to win this tournament but a top-ten finish in this field is good,” head coach Jan Dowling said. “Today was another OK day but it definitely wasn’t because of lack of effort. Our team played hard the entire tournament.”
Junior Mia Piccio, who added a team-best final round 72 on her birthday, played consistent throughout the tournament shooting a one-over 217 (73-72-72). Piccio finished the tournament in a tie for seventh place, her best finish since the Gator Women’s Invitational last March.
“For Mia to finish in the top-ten in this field is great,” Dowling pointed out. “I am proud of Mia’s performance throughout the tournament. This should give her a lot of confidence going forward.”
Freshman Camilla Hedberg had a bounce back performance on the final day to give her score of 223 (71-82-71, +7). Hedberg placed tied for 39th. Senior Evan Jensen carded a final round 77 to give her a 54-hole total of 230 (+14) and put her in a tie for 70th.
Andrea Watts finished the tournament with a total 231 (+15) and tied for 79th place while Isabelle Lendl finished 18-over (234) for the tournament.
Megan Pak finished with a tournament total of 249 (+33) while competing as an individual.
The University of Alabama takes home first place by a four strokes over UCLA. Stephanie Meadow from Alabama fired a 211 (-5), good enough for first-place by two strokes. The SEC beat the PAC-12 with total team averages of 896.08 to 898.82.
The Gators will hit the links next in Austin, Texas at the Betsy Rawls Invitational, Oct. 31-Nov. 2. The tournament is hosted by the University of Texas and is played at the UT Golf Club.