Florida Women's Golf Advances to NCAA Championship

Saturday, May 10

Lincoln, NE

12:00 AM

Florida Gators

NCAA Central Regional

Florida Women's Golf Advances to NCAA Championship

Saturday, May 10, 2003 | Women's Golf

LINCOLN, Neb. -- The University of Florida women's golf team will advance to the 2003 NCAA Championships at the Kampen Course in West Lafayette, Ind. after finishing in seventh place at the NCAA Central Regional, shooting a three-round 931 (311-297-323) Saturday afternoon at the Firethorn Golf Club (par71/6,033 yards) in Lincoln, Neb. California won the regional with a score of 897 (292-292-313) and Wisconsin's Katie Connelly took medalist honors, carding a four-over-par 217.

This marks the third time in four years that the Gators have advanced to the NCAA Championships.

"I felt like we struggled yesterday, but we were given a second chance today and we survived," head coach Jill Briles-Hinton said. "There are three bad elements in golf - wind, rain and cold - and we got all three of them today. This team is not used to those types of weather elements, but they persevered and I am very proud of each of them."

Freshman Aimee Cho (Orlando, Fla.) led Florida, carding a five-over-par 76 to finish the tournament tied for 12^th place with a 14-over-par 227. Senior Jeanne Cho (Boulogne, France) also placed in the top 20, finishing in 17th place, shooting a 15-over-par 228 (77-73-78) for the tournament. Cho birdied holes nine and 17 to finish the day with an eight-over-par 79.

Sophomore Andrea Vander Lende (Longwood, Fla.) tied for 47^th place with a score of 238 (76-74-88), junior Amanda Dick (Clearwater, Fla.) tied for 65^th place with a score of 242 (82-76-84) and freshman Camila Gonzalez (Bucaramanga, Colombia) finished in 79th place with a score of 244 (84-75-85).

Florida and the seven other top-eight teams at the NCAA Central Regional will join the top eight teams from the East and West Regionals to compete for the NCAA Championship. Two of the top individuals from each region will also advance to the championships.

Team Scores

1. California 292-292-313--897

2. Kent State 298-297-322--917

3. Texas 307-298-314--919

4. Purdue 309-303-314--926

5. Nebraska 312-298-318--928

6. Wisconsin 306-303-321--930

7. Florida 311-297-323--931

8. Tulsa 315-296-323--934

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9. Texas A&M 308-297-330--935

T10. Oklahoma 302-304-330--936