HANAHAN, S.C. (UCFKnights.com) - The No. 22 Knights started strong Sunday, finishing tied for fourth after day one. The team shot a collective four-under par (284) and is just six-shots back of first place Furman.
Three UCF players fired rounds below par, including a 69 (-3) from freshman Maria Balcazar, a 70 (-2) from senior Ayaka Nakayama and a 71 (-1) by senior Ashley Holder.
"I'm really happy with our start," head coach Emily Marron said. "The girls fought hard and finished well. I really believe we can go low on this course."
Balcazar led the Black and Gold with five birdies and added some fireworks on the final hole. She knocked her approach within three feet of the pin on the par-five eighteenth, before putting an exclamation on her round by draining the eagle putt and finishing tied for sixth among individuals.
Holder was steady all day making just one bogey, the fewest of any of her teammates. She carded two birdies and 15 pars including a stretch of nine-straight at one point.
Nakayama turned in matching nines, with two birdies and a bogey on each side while senior Johanna Larsson and junior Kaeli Jones turned in matching rounds of 74 (+2). Sophomore Nicolette Donovan ended the day with a 77 (+5) competing as an individual.
Second round action is slated to begin at 8 a.m. Monday with UCF on the tee beginning at 8:45 a.m. Click here to follow the Knights via live scoring.
