ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - A pair of Knights made a strong showing over the weekend at the Florida State Golf Association Women's Amateur Championship. The event was held on the 6,063 yard Par 72 track at Bent Pine Golf Club in Vero Beach, Fla.
Incoming senior Ayaka Nakayama and sophomore transfer Nicolette Donovan both advanced to semifinal matches before being denied an opportunity to play for the trophy by their respective opponents.
A field of 104 players took to the links Thursday and Friday for 36 holes of stroke play. The low 32 players were then seeded in a match play bracket and the rest were cut. Both Knights advanced easily following stroke play, finishing in the top five; Donovan tied for first while Nakayama tied for fifth.
Nakayama started strong in match play, winning 5 and 4, 3 and 1, and 2 and 1 before falling to Sophie Lie in a heartbreaking semifinal showdown.
The match came down to the final hole where Nakayama caught a bad break. Her tee shot came to rest just behind a tree with no angle at the green. She was forced to punch out and play for bogey. Lie took advantage, making routine par to win the match 1 up.
Donovan's road was much tougher, with each of her first three matches being decided by a single hole. She took the opening match 1 up, the second match in 19 holes and won her third match after battling through 24 holes. Her run ended as she fell 4 and 3 to Emma Albrecht in the semifinal.
UCF head coach Emily Marron was impressed by the way both players competed and said this experience will be invaluable as the Knights look to reclaim their conference title next season.
I'm really proud of them both for battling hard this week, She said. They both played some incredible golf and I'm excited to get them back in the fall with this experience on their side.
Stroke Play
Nicolette Donovan - 70-73= 143 (T1)
Ayaka Nakayama - 76-71= 147 (T5)
Round of 32
Ayaka Nakayama, Oviedo (147) def. Brittany LaPadula, Port Saint Lucie (153), 5 and 4
Nicolette Donovan, Ponte Vedra Beach (143) def. Sophia Dieter, Jupiter (153), 1 up
Round of 16
Ayaka Nakayama, Oviedo (147) def. Navika Kuchakulla, Orlando (149), 3 and 1
Nicolette Donovan, Ponte Vedra Beach (143) def. Ashley Burke, Boynton Beach (151), 19 holes
Quarterfinal
Ayaka Nakayama, Oviedo (147) def. Katie Holt, Clermont (153), 2 and 1
Nicolette Donovan, Ponte Vedra Beach (143) def. Annie Kim, Winter Garden (153), 24 holes
Semifinal
Sophie Liu, Melbourne (154) def. Ayaka Nakayama, Oviedo (147), 1 up
Emma Albrecht, Ormond Beach (144) def. Nicolette Donovan, Ponte Vedra Beach (143), 4 and 3