Florida Gators
Northrop Grumman
Women's Golf Kicks Off Spring Season at Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge
Tuesday, February 10, 2009 | Women's Golf
The University of Florida women's golf team teed off for the first tournament of the 2009 spring season on Monday at the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge in Palos Verdes , Calif. The squad finished the first round of competion in a tie for 10th place amid rain, wind and cold temperatures at the par-71, 5,912-yard Palos Verdes Golf Course. The Lady Gators carded a 325 (+41).
“The conditions today were very, very tough and that's in addition to a very difficult golf course,” said head coach Jill Briles-Hinton. “Only one of our players has played that golf course and Jessica is in the top-five and shot only four-over par.”
“I am looking forward to seeing how the next few days play out,” Briles-Hinton continued. “Most of the players that are ahead of our ladies have played that course before. The tournament conditions are so tough and the greens are so fast and severe that they only way to play these greens well, is to have experience on them”
Sophomore Jessica Yadloczky (Casselberry, Fla.) led the Gators with a strong performance in round one, finishing the day with a 75 (+4) for a tie for fifth. After collecting two bogeys, a double bogey and one par on the first four holes, Yadlockzy battled back to tally three birdies on her next four holes. She entered the back nine at two-over par and collected pars on holes 10 through 14.
The freshman duo of Evan Jensen (Belleair, Fla.) and Andrea Watts (Bradenton, Fla.) had matching scores, ending the day with an 11-over 82 in a tie for 45th place. Jensen bogeyed six of her first nine holes, but collected six pars and one birdie in her first round of play. Watts tallied eight pars, one birdie, six bogeys and three double bogeys in her first 18 holes of play at the Regional Challenge.
Redshirt sophomore Lauren Uzelatz (Lakeland, Fla.) rounded out the day for the Gators in a tie for 72nd after carding an 86 (+15). Lady Gator newcomer Marika Lendl (Bradenton, Fla.) was forced to withdraw from the round after feeling under the weather.
“Like I said, I am looking forward to seeing how our squad bounces back after today,” said Briles-Hinton. “As much our team may seem hurt or defeated after a round like today, I am confident that its only going to give them the experience they need to make them better in the furture.”
Third-ranked Arizona State finished the first round atop the leaderboard with a 305 (+21), led by Juliana Murcia, the only golfer to finish the round under par. Murcia collected 13 pars and 3 birdies for a first-round score of 70 (-1).
The Lady Gators continue action on Tuesday as they tee off at 9 a.m. Live scoring and results can be found at www.GatorZone.com.
Team Scores After Round 1
| Place | School | Score |
| 1. | Arizona State | 305 (+21) |
| 2. | Southern California | 313 (+29) |
| 3. | UCLA | 314 (+30) |
| 4. | Wake Forest | 315 (+31) |
| 5. | Michigan State | 316 (+32) |
| 6. | California | 317 (+33) |
| 7. | Ohio State | 318 (+34) |
| 8. | Pepperdine | 319 (+35) |
| 9. | Denver | 321 (+37) |
| T10. | Florida | 325 (+41) |
| T10. | Baylor | 325 (+41) |
| 12. | Stanford | 328 (+44) |
| 13. | Notre Dame | 330 (+46) |
| 14. | Texas A&M | 331 (+47) |
| 15. | BYU | 336 (+52) |
| 16. | East Carolina | 326 (+42) |
Individual Top 10 Through Round 1
| Place | Player (School) | Score |
| 1. | Juliana Murcia (Arizona State) | 70 (-1) |
| 2. | Lizette Salas (Southern California) | 73 (+2) |
| T3. | Kaitlin Drolson (Pepperdine) | 74 (+3) |
| T3. | Tiffany Joh (UCLA) | 74 (+3) |
| T5. | Ellie Givens (Denver) | 75 (+4) |
| T5. | Jessica Yadloczky (Florida) | 75 (+4) |
| T7. | 6 players | 76 (+5) |
Florida Results After Round 1
| Place | Player | Score |
| T5. | Jessica Yadloczky | 75 (+4) |
| T45. | Evan Jensen | 82 (+11) |
| T45. | Andrea Watts | 82 (+11) |
| T72. | Lauren Uzelatz | 86 (+15) |
| - | Marika Lendl | WD |
-UF-
