ATHENS, Ga. (UCFKnights.com) – The 2017 season came to a close for the UCF women's golf team on Wednesday, as the Knights completed the third and final round of action at the NCAA Regional in Athens.
The No. 25 Knights concluded another tremendous season under head coach Emily Marron with a 14th place finish at the University of Georgia Golf Course. Trailing the sixth place team by 15 strokes coming into Wednesday's final round, UCF was unable to make up ground and finished outside the top six teams advancing to the NCAA Championship Round.
Competing in the NCAA Regionals for the fifth time in the last six years, the Knights scored a combined round of 310 (+22) on Wednesday for a total of 913 (+49) for the week.
Three-time American Athletic Conference Player of the Year Ashley Holder led UCF with a one over par 73 on Wednesday. She also led the Knights with an eight over par 224 to place 33rd overall for the three-round tournament.
Ayaka Nakayama, who shot one under par on Tuesday, came back with a six over par 78 on Wednesday to finish the week in 59th at 229 (+13). Kaeli Jones shot a seven over 79, while The American Freshman of the Year Maria Balcazar carded an eight over par 80 on Wednesday to finish the tournament in 67th (231) and 75th (233), respectively.
Alabama was the only team to shoot under par for the tournament, winning the regional with a three-day mark of seven under par 857. Northwestern and Michigan State took second and third place, finishing at seven and eight over par, respectively.
UCF ends its season in Athens, but had plenty to celebrate in 2017, including its second American Athletic Conference Championship in the last three seasons. Holder, the three-time player of the year in the league, won the conference individual title for the first time in her illustrious career.
