Florida Gators
SEC Championships
Cho Wins Individual SEC Title,WGolf Finishes 2nd
Monday, April 21, 2003 | Women's Golf
Aimee Cho (Orlando, Fla.) became the second women's golfer in Florida's history to win the SEC individual title as a freshman Sunday afternoon as the No. 9 University of Florida women's golf team finished two strokes behind SEC Champion Auburn to take second place with a score of 905 (296-296-313) at the 2003 SEC Championships at the University Club of Kentucky in Lexington, Ky.
"As a team, we had a tough day today," head coach Jill Briles-Hinton said. "Even though the weather conditions were very tough, we should have scored a little bit better, and that would have been what we needed to win the SEC Championship."
"I'm thrilled and very proud of Aimee," Briles-Hinton said. "I have always known that she was a solid player. For her to shoot a 71 in the conditions that were given to us today was just phenomenal, and that was what she needed to win this tournament. She kept her composure and she beat some fine players, going head-to-head with the SEC Freshman of the Year [Violeta Retamoza]."
Cho finished the tournament carding a three-round 216 (72-73-71) including a tournament low round one-under-par 71 in today's final round. She began the day in third place at one-over-par 145 after shooting an even par 72 in the first round and a 73 in the second round. Cho began the third round at even-par through three holes, and then went three-under-par as she hit three straight birdies on holes four, five and six. Cho made her final birdie on the 18th hole as she sank a 30-foot putt to birdie the last hole and seal her victory.
"I had fun playing in the wind today. I was also putting very well," Cho said. "I had no idea where I was (in the tournament standings), so I just kept going. That last putt that I had was amazing."
Cho also ranks as the fourth freshman in the SEC to win a SEC individual title and the fifth golfer in Florida's history to win a title. With Cho's victory, five Lady Gators have now won eight individual SEC titles since 1982.
Although the Lady Gators experienced strong wind conditions today, four of Florida's golfers finished in the top 20 of the tournament. Junior Amanda Dick (Clearwater, Fla.) finished in 12th place, shooting a three-round 227 (75-72-80). Senior Jeanne Cho (Bradenton, Fla.) carded a 232 (73-76-83) for the tournament to finish tied for 18th place and fellow senior Brittany Straza (Fort Myers, Fla.) tied for 20th place with a score of 233 (77-75-81) to round out the top 20 finishes. Sophomore Andrea Vander Lende (Longwood, Fla.) shot a final round 81 to finish tied for 33rd place with a score of 240 (76-83-81).
"I'm sure the girls have pits in their stomach's right now, but they know they have to make this an educational experience by turning it around and moving on to NCAA regionals and nationals."
South Carolina's senior Kristy McPherson came into the third round in the lead, but shot a nine-over-par 81 in the third round to finish in third place with a score of 220. Tennessee's freshman Violeta Retamoza moved into the lead through nine holes, but Cho claimed the lead on the back nine as Retamoza finished second after shooting five-over-par 77.
Florida and Tennessee battled back and forth all day, until the last three holes when Auburn took the lead to win by two strokes with a score of 903. The Lady Vols finished in third place with a score of 911. Today's second place finish marks the best Florida finish at the SEC Championships since the 1995 team won the title.
The Lady Gators will now await word of where they will travel to NCAA Regionals May 8-10.
TEAM SCORES
1. Auburn 299-297-307--903
2. Florida 296-296-313--905
3. Tennessee 291-301-319--911
4. South Carolina 295-308-311--914
5. Vanderbilt 306-301-312--919
6. Arkansas 297-316-312--925
7. Georgia 299-311-327--937
8. Kentucky 309-311-324--944
9. Mississippi State 317-311-332--960
10. LSU 324-326-325--975
11. Ole Miss 319-322-341--982
12. Alabama 318-329-336--983
FLORIDA SCORES
1. Aimee Cho 72-73-71--216
12. Amanda Dick 75-72-80--227
T18. Jeanne Cho 73-76-83--232
T20. Brittany Straza 77-75-81--233
T33. Andrea Vander Lende 76-83-81--240
UF
