Golf Opens Spring at Florida Challenge

LECANTO, Fla. – The University of Miami women’s golf team opens its 2013 spring slate Monday at the inaugural Florida Challenge, a one-day, 36-hole shooting featuring five of Florida’s top programs.

Miami’s lone January event will be played at the par-72, 6,050-yard Quarry Course at Black Diamond Ranch in Lecanto, located about 80 miles northwest of Orlando.

The Canes, having recently finished a slew of individual offseason competitions, will be looking to earn state bragging rights as they compete against four in-state rivals – Florida, Florida State, UCF and host USF.

“We’re looking forward to competing back as a team on Monday. I think we’ll be in the mix for some good results,” third-year head coach Patti Rizzo said. “Our goals haven’t changed between the [winter] break. Coach [John] Koskinen and I want to see improvement from last fall, and staying with the 300 barrier after every round is something we’re aiming hard for this spring.”

Miami returns a young squad, anchored by five underclassmen – freshmen Laura Hendee, Christina Ocampo and Lauren Riehle and sophomores Rika Park and Leticia Ras-Anderica – and one junior, Carina Cuculiza.

With the start of the spring season, the Canes added a sixth underclassman to the roster – sophomore and Arkansas transfer Audrey Monssoh, who originally hails from Nuilly Sur Seine, France.

All seven Hurricanes golfers will compete in the Florida Challenge; Monsohh and Riehle will compete as individuals.