WoMen's Golf Preps for UCF Challenge

SORRENTO, Fla. – After back-to-back third-place finishes, the Miami Hurricanes women’s golf team continues its Sunshine State tour Feb. 10-12 with the UCF Challenge at RedTail Golf Club. The Hurricanes open their spring slate with third-place finishes at the Florida Challenge and the Hurricane Invitational.

The UCF Challenge returns to the par-72, 6,374-yard course at RedTail Golf Club for a sixth year after the inaugural 2007 event was played at the Villas of Grad Cypress. The tournament will feature 8:30 a.m. ET split tee times on Sunday and Monday with an 8:45 a.m. ET shotgun start for Tuesday’s final round.

“I’m glad we’re not playing a tournament with a 36-hole day,” third-year head coach Patti Rizzo said. “RedTail is a longer course, which Leticia [Ras-Anderica] and Rika [Park] do well at, unlike Carina [Cuculiza], who plays better on short-range courses. Last season, Leti shot good rounds and came out in the Top 10 here so I think experience will help.”

Miami will face an 18-team field that includes seven Top 50 teams – No. 5 Virginia, No. 11 North Carolina, No. 17 Tulane, No. 31 South Carolina, No. 38 Louisville, No. 41 Coastal Carolina and No. 42 Ole Miss.

The Hurricanes’ lineup for the UCF Challenge will be led by their sophomore duo of Leticia Ras-Anderica and Rika Park. Both sophomores are tied for the team lead with a 74.41 scoring average, while Ras-Anderica has four Top 25 finishes to her credit.

“Both Leticia and Rika are progressing well and we want it to continue,” Rizzo said. “One reason why Leticia is doing so well and feeling more confident is because she had her irons fixed. She wasn’t hitting them as well before, but now she’s hitting the ball better and it shows.”

Also in Miami’s lineup at RedTail are junior Carina Cuculiza and freshmen Christina Ocampo and Laura Hendee. Ocampo ranks third on the team with a 77.53 scoring average. Ras-Anderica, Park, Ocampo and Hendee will be competing in their sixth tournament of the season.

For the latest information, follow the Miami Hurricanes women’s golf team on Twitter, @HurricanesGolf.