Golf in Second at UCF Challenge

ORLANDO, Fla. – The 33rd-ranked Miami Hurricanes women’s golf team carded its second-lowest first-round score of the season Sunday and is in second place through 18 holes at the UCF Challenge.

Miami’s first-round 287 is its third-lowest 18-hole score of the season. The Hurricanes shot a final-round 286 at the Challenge at Onion Creek on Oct. 1 and a first-round 276 at the Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational on Oct. 13.

At 1-under 287, the Hurricanes trail host UCF (6-under 282) by five strokes. Miami and UCF were the only schools to shoot under-par during Sunday’s first round. East Tennessee State is third at even-par 288, followed by No. 49 GRU Augusta and USF in a fourth-place tie at 2-over 290.

“I’m very happy with our performance today,” head coach Patti Rizzo said. “Our team is playing some great golf right now. We’re excited for Monday’s second round.”

UCF’s Fanny Cnops is the first-round leader at 5-under 67, holding a one-stroke lead of second-place golfers Casey Kennedy (GRU Augusta) and Gabriella Wahl (ETSU) at 4-under 68.

Miami junior Leticia Ras-Anderica and sophomore Kailey Walsh are the Hurricanes’ individual leaders in the clubhouse. The duo is tied for fifth overall at 2-under 70. Ras-Anderica, who was 1-over through her first nine holes, shot 3-under over her final nine holes to finish at 2-under. Walsh did not card a single bogey during Sunday’s first round, managing 16 pars and two birdies on the day.

Freshman Delfina Acosta is tied for 26th at 1-over 73, followed by fellow freshman Daniela Darquea, who is tied for 38th at 2-over 74. Sophomore Lauren Riehle, who is competing as an individual in Orlando, is tied for 49th at 3-over 75. Junior Rika Park is tied for 90th overall at 7-over 79.

Play continues Monday at the UCF Challenge with a 9 a.m. shotgun start for the second round. Live scoring is available at www.golfstatresults.com.

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