Knights Win AAC Title, Sealy Earns Medalist Honors in Playoff

April 21, 2015

UCF Athletics Social Media Directory

By Bill Morrison
UCFKnights.com

PALM COAST, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) -- The UCF women's golf team was crowned American Athletic Conference Champions Tuesday at the Ocean Course of Hammock Beach Resort. UCF Senior Monifa Sealy won individual medalist honors, winning a one-hole playoff.

UCF began the day with an eight-shot lead over SMU and Houston. The Knights kept their challengers at bay the entire day. But SMU created some tense moments on the back nine. The Mustangs pulled within two shots after the turn, but the Knights tightened the noose on the last six holes.

After finishing as runner-up at last year's conference tournament, UCF made sure not to let this one slip away. The Knights notched a combined five birdies on the last six holes to secure the lead.

"Last year we came up one shot short here and I think it kind of left a little chip on our shoulders," UCF coach Emily Marron said. "They came up here really, really motivated and we were led by our seniors. Monifa Sealy was determined not to let that happen again."

After starting slow, Sealy was determined to make her final nine holes memorable.

"That's exactly what happened," Sealy said. "A lot of magic came out on the back nine for me and also our team. I was really happy with that."

Sealy was tied at 213 (-3) with SMU's Jenny Haglund after 54 holes. The pair went back to the 18th tee to play a sudden-death playoff. Sealy drained a seven-foot par putt forcing Haglund to have to sink her putt from a similar distance to continue. Haglund's putt missed just left of the hole, and Sealy was crowned champion.

"When I hit that shot, that chip," Sealy said. "I was like, `You know what Monifa, all or nothing.' I was really happy to make that [putt]."

The last individual champion for the Knights in a conference tournament was Kristen Putman who was the Atlantic Sun Medalist in 1996.

UCF had three players including Sealy, finish in the top 10 individually. Sophomore Ashley Holder was tied for the lead several times and finished one stroke off the pace, tying for third with a three-day total of 214 (-2). Freshman Laura Sojo tied for eighth with a 218 (+2).

Sophomore Ayaka Nakayama had her best finish of the year (17th), turning in a 224 (+8). Senior Fanny Cnops was 22nd overall with a 225 (+9).

The victory marks the first conference title for UCF since the A-Sun championship in 2000. The Conference Championship was also the Knights first tournament win of the season.

Next up for the Knights is NCAA regionals May 7-9, location to be announced.