Florida Gators
NCAA Central Regional
W. Golf Opens NCAA Central Regional Tournament In Third
Friday, May 12, 2006 | Women's Golf
The University of Florida Women's Golf team opened the first day of competition at the NCAA Central Regional Tournament by carding a team score of 301 (+13) at the Traditions Golf Club, to finish the day in third place. Sophomore Whitney Myers (East Berlin, Pa.) led the team by recording a one-over par score of 73 and heads into the second round tied for seventh.
Experienced proved to be key for the Lady Gator frontrunners on the opening day. All three returning players who saw action in last year's East Regional Tournament, landed in the top-20 during the first round. Myers led the way by starting on the back-nine and collected birdies on the 13th and 16th holes. She remained a one-under through 16 holes before ending her day with a pair of bogies.
Meanwhile, sophomores Sandra Gal (Leichlingen, Germany) and Tiffany Chudy (Miramar, Fla.) both posted strong performances to help the Gators stay in the hunt for a berth into the NCAA Championship later this month. Bother Gal and Chudy carded 76 (+4) to finish the day in a tie for 20th-place. Freshman Ornella Jouven (La Ciotat, France) also carded a 76 during her first round of post-season play.
Freshmen Mallory Blackwelder (Versailles, Ky.) rounded out the Gator lineup by recording an 83 (+11).
“This was a difficult golf course and you have to know where to hit the ball,” Florida head coach Jill Briles-Hinton said. “We got off to a rough start today, but we hung in there. Tomorrow we have to come out play well from the start, which they are capable of doing. I think they were probably a little nervous at first, but once they settled down they were better.”
Florida will begin the second round on Friday eight shots off the pace, set by Southern California. The Trojans moved ahead of defending national champion, Duke, with a late surge on Thursday. Texas' Devan Andersen and Duke's Amanda Blumenherst top the leader board after firing a score of 70 (-2).
Complete results from the first round and live scoring updates can be found at www.golfstat.com.
-UF-
Team Results
| Place | School | Score | Par |
| 1 | Southern California | 293 | +5 |
| 2 | Duke | 294 | +6 |
| 3 | Florida | 301 | +13 |
| 4 | Pepperdine | 303 | +15 |
| 5 | Michigan State | 306 | +18 |
| 6 | Northwestern | 308 | +20 |
| T7 | Ohio State | 309 | +21 |
| T7 | Nebraska | 309 | +21 |
| 9 | Texas | 311 | +23 |
| 11 | Oklahoma State | 314 | +26 |
| 12 | SMU | 316 | +28 |
| T13 | Baylor | 318 | +30 |
| T13 | Texas A&M | 318 | +30 |
| T15 | TCU | 319 | +31 |
| T15 | Tulsa | 319 | +31 |
| 17 | Missouri | 320 | +32 |
| 18 | Birmingham-Southern | 327 | +39 |
| 19 | Jacksonville State | 335 | +47 |
| 20 | Jackson State | 343 | +55 |
| 21 | St. Francis | 355 | +67 |
Florida Results
| Place | Name | Score | Par |
| T7 | Whitney Myers | 73 | +1 |
| T20 | Tiffany Chudy | 76 | +4 |
| T20 | Ornella Jouven | 76 | +4 |
| T20 | Sandra Gal | 76 | +4 |
| T75 | Mallory Blackwelder | 83 | +11 |
