`Canes Set to Compete in Edwin Watts/Kiawah Island Classic
Feb. 19, 2011
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami women’s golf team will head to Kiawah Island, S.C. this weekend to play in the three-day Edwin Watts/Kiawah Island Classic, a tournament the squad has won the last two years. The Hurricanes look to ride the momentum from a tied for second place finish at the JU Classic two weeks ago.
The Edwin Watts/Kiawah Island Classic, hosted by the College of Charleston, is the largest women’s collegiate golf tournament in the country with 33 schools scheduled to participate. In addition to CofC and UM, this year’s field includes: Akron, Arkansas State, Bucknell, Campbell, Central Arkansas, Charleston Southern, The Citadel, Daytona State, Drake, Elon, Faulkner, No. 36 Florida International, Houston Baptist, Iowa, Jacksonville, Jacksonville State, James Madison, Longwood, Middle Tennessee State, Nebraska, Newberry, Old Dominion, Oral Roberts, Presbyterian, Richmond, USC Upstate, Western Carolina, Wichita State, William & Mary, Winthrop and Wofford.
The tournament will take place at both the Oak Point Golf Course (Par 72 – 5,907 yards) and the Cougar Point Golf Course (Par 72 – 6,001 yards). The Hurricanes competed in the Palmetto Intercollegiate at Cougar Point in October, shooting a 929 in three rounds to finish 12th of 18. Senior Maria Ronderos and freshman Carina Cuculiza paced the `Canes each with a 219 to tie for eighth place.
Last season, the `Canes (892) edged Minnesota (893) by a stroke, finishing with a 28-over par 892 and rallied from 12 strokes down in the final round to win the team title at the Edwin Watts/Kiawah Island Classic. Then-freshman Shelby Gilbert led Miami with a four-over 220 score, including a 70 in the final round, to finish in a tie for ninth.
In 2009, the Hurricanes tied Central Arkansas for the title with a score of 904. Travel arrangements of the teams did not allow for a playoff. Then-sophomore Christina Hirano finished in a tie for sixth with an 11-over par 299, with an even-par 72 in the final round.
Coach Patti Rizzo has tabbed Ronderos in the number one slot with Christina Hirano, Jennifer Hirano, Carina Cuculiza and Patricia Arana also on the card for this year’s tournament. Temperatures will be warmer than expected with the “Weather Channel” calling for a high of 67 degrees during the day Sunday.
Sunday’s first round will tee-off at 9:30 a.m. (ET).
Click here for the most up-to-date scoring from GolfStat and be sure to check HurricaneSports.com for recaps following each round.
