March 2, 2010
Complete Results in PDF Format
By Leigh Torbin
UCFAthletics.com
SORRENTO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Junior Katie Detlefsen (Eagan, Minn.) recorded her second top 10 finish of the year but the UCF women's golf team wound up tying for sixth as a team in the annual UCF Challenge at the par-72, 6,301-yard RedTail Golf Club in Sorrento, Fla.
On a blustery day in Sorrento, the Knights carded a final round 315 to finish the event with a 913 (+49) and a tie with Furman for sixth place. It is by far UCF's best ever showing in the four-year old event, topping its 12th place finish in 2007. No. 24 Texas A&M won the tournament with a score of 893 (+29), two strokes ahead of Georgia State's 895 (+31). In Tuesday's final round, windy conditions were an issue and there was just one eagle all day but it helped the Aggies to the title as Chloe Garner posted it with four holes remaining in her round.
UCF also topped a pair of Conference USA foes in Sorrento as SMU placed eighth and East Carolina was No. 13 in the 17-team field.
Texas A&M's Julia Boland easily won individual medalist honors at the 2010 UCF Challenge, as her 210 (-6) was five strokes ahead of her teammate, Sarah Zwartynski, who placed second.
"We got ourselves into a hole early and couldn't get out," UCF head coach Courtney Trimble said. "I saw plenty of good things on the course both yesterday and today and there is a clearly a lot to look forward to this season. It was a respectable showing in a good field but we wanted more than we got."
Detlefsen carded a 223 (+7) to pace the Knights and tie for 10th place overall in the 90-golfer field. She also placed in the top 10 during the FIU/Pat Bradley Invitational this past fall. Prior to this season, she had just one career top 10 finish. Sophomore Elisa Aoki (Bradenton, Fla.) was UCF's second finisher with a 226 (+10) after entering as the team's fifth-seeded golfer. Her 17th place finish marked her fourth top 20 finish in six events this year.
Freshman Carolin Pinegger (Marquartstein, Germany) was third amongst the Knights with a 228 (+12), including a team-best 76 in Tuesday's third and final round. Freshman Valentina Fontaine (Santiago, Chile) placed fourth on the team with a 236 (+20), while senior Victoria Tomko (Lontzen, Belgium) recorded a 248 (+32).
Competing as individuals, freshman Sammy Vass took home a 245 (+29), while classmate Sunny Harris (Pensacola, Fla.) came away with a 257 (+41) in her collegiate debut.
The Knights will return to action March 12-14 when they head to New Orleans for the Tiger/Wave Golf Classic co-hosted by LSU and Tulane.
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.
UCF CHALLENGE
REDTAIL GOLF CLUB * SORRENTO, FLA.
FINAL RESULTS * PAR 72 * 6,301 YARDS
TOP TEAM FINISHERS
1. Texas A&M 293-305-295=893 (+29)
2. Georgia State 292-299-304=895 (+31)
3. Coastal Carolina 302-298-304=904 (+40)
4. College of Charleston 299-300-306=905 (+41)
5. Baylor 300-298-309=907 (+43)
T6. UCF 301-297-315=913 (+49)
T6. Furman 304-296-313-913 (+49)
UCF SCORERS
T10. Katie Detlefsen 73-69-81=223 (+7)
T17. Elisa Aoki 76-71-79=226 (+10)
T26. Carolin Pinegger 75-77-76=228 (+12)
T51. Valentina Fontaine 77-80-79=236 (+20)
82. Victoria Tomko 83-82-83=248 (+32)
IND. Sammy Vass 84-80-81=245 (+29)
IND. Sunny Harris 89-82-86=257 (+41)