The
15th ranked University of Florida women’s golf team sits in second-place with a
307 (+9) following a cold and windy first round at the 2012 SEC Women’s Golf Championship.
The Gators have three golfers, junior Isabelle Lendl (Goshen, Conn.), senior
Evan Jensen (Belleair, Fla.), and freshman Camilla Hedberg
(Sitges, Spain), in the top-16 entering the second round in Fayetteville,
Arkansas at the Blessings Golf Club.
“I
couldn’t be more proud of my team’s effort today but we could also learn a lot from
the mistakes we made today and over the next few days keep working extremely
hard and limit our mistakes,” explained head coach Jan Dowling. “This
golf course is extremely difficult and it was made even tougher by the conditions.”
Lendl
handed in her best round of the spring with a three-over 75. Lendl had three
birdies against four bogeys and one double-bogey. The junior will enter the second
day in a tie for ninth individually.
“There
can’t be a more legitimate test for how much improvement Isabelle’s made than
playing on this golf course. I cannot be more proud of her. Her round today is
a true indicator that she’s on the right path to being the golfer she wants to
be. She should feel pretty good about it,” Dowling said.
The
Gators gained two solid rounds from Hedberg, who shot a four-over 76 and
Jensen, who shot a five-over 77. Hedberg and Jensen are tied for 11th and
16th, respectively, following the first round.
Senior
Andrea Watts (Bradenton, Fla.) and junior Mia Piccio (Bacolod
City, Philippines) both added rounds of 79 (+7) in the first round. Watts and
Piccio are tied for 28th after the first 18.
“Judging
by the scores it’s obvious that this golf course is difficult. We made some big
numbers but we’re right in the mix, which is all you can ask for,” Dowling
added. “We’re in good spirits. It’s a grind out there and we’re going to do our
best to relax and laugh a little bit tonight and get back to work tomorrow
morning. There’s a lot of golf to be played and there’s a lot that can happen
at this golf course. If we keep our heads on straight, we’re going to have a
chance on Sunday.”
Second
ranked Alabama, with a first round 297 (+9), leads Auburn by nine strokes.
Patricia Sanz of Auburn and Marta Silva Zamora of Georgia share the individual
lead after round one. Both shot a three-under 69.
