Florida Gators
NCAA Championships
Women's Golf Moves to Fifth at NCAA Championships
Thursday, May 23, 2002 | Women's Golf
The University of Florida women's golf team finished in in fifth place Wednesday at the NCAA Championships, shooting a three-over-par 291. Arizona held on to its lead despite shooting an eight-over-par 296. The Gators, with a two-day total of 589, are just eight strokes off the lead.
"Deep down I felt we would play really well today. Today's round was encouraging," said Gator Head Coach Jill Briles-Hinton. "We need to build upon the confidence we established in this round and continue to play as well as we did today to put ourselves in a position to win."
The Gators began Wednesday in 48-degree, overcast weather with steady light winds on the front nine, where just 24 hours before, they shot 10-over-par. This time, however, Florida made some adjustments and made the turn at two-over-par. Sophomore Amanda Dick (Clearwater, Fla.) and freshman Andrea Vander Lende (Longwood, Fla.) each made the turn at one-under-par. Juniors Brittany Straza (Ft. Myers, Fla.) and Jeanne Cho (Boulogne, France) and freshman Whitney Code (Tampa, Fla.) moved to the 10th tee at two-over-par.
On the back nine, where Tuesday the Gators were one-under-par, Florida finished its second round strong, shooting one-over-par as a team to finish with a 291. Vander Lende continued her pace, finishing at even- par, while Dick was the most improved Gator, shooting a 72 to finish 10 strokes better than Tuesday. Vander Lende is in a tie for eighth place in the tournament, shooting a 71-72--143, and Dick finished in a tie for 81st place with a 154 (82-72). Code was the most consistent Florida player, shooting her second consecutive 74 to finish tied for 29th with a 148. Cho finished the back nine at one-under-par and is tied for 41st with a two- round 149 (76-73). Straza rounded out the team scoring with a 74 to finish tied for 57th place overall with a 151 (77-74).
“Today, I just hit the ball more solid and hit a lot of greens and didn't really get in any trouble,” said Dick. “I really haven't been hitting the ball that well, and today I just went out and said, 'Play golf. Don't worry about your swing – just go play golf.”
Duke's Virada Nirapathpongporn and Georgia's Summer Sirmons are tied for the individual leas at seven-under-par.
Florida will tee off beginning at 12:20 p.m. PST.
Teams Scores
1. Arizona 285-296--581
2. Duke 294-293—587
T3. Georgia 294-294—588
T3. Oklahoma 299-289--588
5. Florida 298-291--589
T6. Ohio State 299-292--591
T6. Texas 305-286—591
8. Arizona State 301-292--593
9. Stanford 299-295--594
10. Pepperdine 301-294—595
11. South Carolina 298-298--596
12. Auburn 298-300--598
T13. Tulsa 302-297—599
T13. Washington 302-297--599
T15. Purdue 304-296—600
T15. Michigan 301-299--600
T17. California 298-303—601
T17. Southern California 307-294--601
T19. Oklahoma State 299-303—602
T19. Michigan State 305-297--602
21. Wake Forest 298-305—603
22. Vanderbilt 311-296--607
23. UCLA 314-297--611
24. South Florida 313-322--635
Florida Scores
T8. Andrea Vander Lende 71-72--143
T29. Whitney Code 74-74--148
T41. Jeanne Cho 76-73--149
T57. Brittany Straza 77-74--151
T81. Amanda Dick 82-72--154
