Oct. 9, 2013
UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Andy Seeley
UCFKnights.com
REDMOND, Wash. (UCFKnights.com) - A hole-in-one, an even par round and three top 10 individuals pushed the UCF women's golf team to a third-place finish at the Edean Ihlanfeldt Invitational Wednesday at Sahalee Country Club.
Freshman Ashley Holder recorded the ace, which propelled her to a sixth-place finish in the event. Junior transfer Fanny Cnops tallied the Knights' top score of the day, carding an even-par 72, lifting her into a tie for seventh. Robyn Doig also tied for seventh, giving the Knights three finishers in the top 10.
One of the highlights of the tournament was Holder's tee shot on the Par-3 13th hole at Sahlaee Country Club, which hosted the 1998 PGA Championship, along with many other high-profile events through the years. That tee shot found the bottom of the cup before Holder even realized what happened.
It was my first hole-in-one, Holder exclaimed after the round. I didn't actually see it go in, but I thought it would be close. It really sparked my round and helped me have a good finish.
Holder carded scores of 75-73-74 for a total of 222 (+6) to account for her sixth-place finish and the best result of her young collegiate career.
Cnops recorded rounds of 73-78-72, while Doig turned in tallies of 76-73-74 for identical 223 (+7) totals to finish in a tie for seventh.
We had three players in the top 10 of a really strong field, UCF head coach Emily Marron said. We have a team that fights hard every day.
Kaitlyn Price (73-82-81-236 +20) was tied for 43rd, while Paola Robles (80-77-80-237 +21) rounded out the Knights' entries in the event.
The Knights fought through rain, hail and cooler temperatures than they are used to in Tuesday's first two rounds. But Marron said she was proud of the way her team battled the field and the elements.
This was a great event and I'm really proud of the team for their finish today, Marron said. Conditions were miserable yesterday and they endured 36 holes in it. I'm excited about our potential this year.
UCF, which entered the tournament ranked No. 29 by Golfstat, topped four other teams in the Top 40. The Knights defeated No. 17 California, No. 32 Oregon, No. 36 UC Davis and No. 38 Colorado. Only No. 1 Washington and No. 11 Stanford finished in front of the Knights in the 13-team field.
The Knights will get one final opportunity to live up to their potential this fall when they take part in the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown Oct. 27-29. UCF was the runner-up in Las Vegas last season.
Team Leaders
1. Stanford 285-283-295=863 (-1)
2. Washington 301-289-300=890 (+26)
3. UCF 297-301-300=898 (+34)
UCF Golfers
6. Ashley Holder 75-73-74=222 (+6)
T7. Robyn Doig 76-73-74=223 (+7)
T7. Fanny Cnops 73-78-72=223 (+7)
T43. Kaitlyn Price 73-82-81=236 (+20)
T47. Paola Robles 80-77-80=237 (+21)