LECANTO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - The UCF women's golf team was back on the links Monday, battling 11 other sunshine state schools in the Florida Challenge at the Quarry course of the Black Diamond Ranch.
Teams descended on the 6,075-yard par 72 track for one-day 36-hole shootout. After the opening 18, the Knights were in fourth place chasing second place Florida State and co-leaders Florida and Miami.
The Black and Gold rallied in the second round, shooting a collective 17-shots better and came within three-shots of the third place Hurricanes before finishing fourth for the shootout.
Senior Johanna Larsson led the way for the Knights, finishing tied for sixth after carding rounds of 74-72= 146 (+4). The effort marks her first top-10 and the first time she has been the team's top finisher since becoming a Knight.
Fellow upperclassman Ashley Holder and Ayaka Nakayama each tied for 17th posting a 152 (+8). Freshman Maria Balcazar was 23rd shooting 154 (+10) and sophomore transfer Anna Hack tied for 28th with a 157 (+13).
Sophomore Nicolette Donovan and junior Kaeli Jones also took part, playing as individuals. Donovan finished 11th with a 74-75= 149 (+5) while Jones turned in a 160 (+16).
Next up, the Knights will host the UCF Challenge Feb. 5-7 at Eagle Creek Golf Club in Orlando.
UCF Individual Scores
| Player | Rd. 1 | Rd. 2 | Total | To Par | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T6. Johanna Larsson | 76 | 72 | 148 | +4 | |
| *11. Nicolette Donovan | 74 | 75 | 149 | +5 | |
| T17. Ashley Holder | 78 | 74 | 152 | +8 | |
| T17. Ayaka Nakayama | 77 | 75 | 152 | +8 | |
| 23. Maria Balcazar | 80 | 74 | 154 | +10 | |
| T28. Anna Hack | 83 | 74 | 157 | +13 | |
| *T39. Kaeli Jones | 82 | 78 | 160 | +16 |
*Played as individual
Team Scores
| Team | Rd. 1 | Rd. 2 | Total | To Par | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Florida | 301 | 281 | 582 | +6 | |
| 2. Florida State | 302 | 292 | 594 | +18 | |
| 3. Miami | 301 | 301 | 602 | +26 | |
| 4. UCF | 311 | 294 | 605 | +29 |