Golf Three Strokes Back at Gator Invite

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – After a slow start, the 31st-ranked Miami Hurricanes picked up momentum in the latter stages of the first round and are just three strokes behind the co-leaders Friday at the SunTrust Gator Women’s Invitational.

The top eight teams are separated by just four strokes in Gainesville. Miami and Oklahoma are tied for sixth at 15-over 295, three strokes behind co-leaders Ohio State and Florida State at 12-over 292. Penn State is in third at 13-over 293, followed by Arizona and Virginia in fourth at 14-over 294.

“We had a slow start to the day, but we were able to hang in there,” head coach Patti Rizzo said. “Clearly, this is a tough course. We’re three shots behind the leaders and we are in good position to make a charge Saturday.”

Florida’s Karolina Vlckova is the only golfer under par through 18 holes and owns a one-stroke lead at 1-under 69. Miami junior Leticia Ras-Anderica is one of nine golfers tied for seventh at 2-over 72, trailing Vlckova by a three-stroke margin.

Miami started the first round on the back nine, which is where its woes began. The Hurricanes shot 19-over on holes 10-18, but they rebounded on the front round with a 3-over tally. As a team, the Hurricanes managed to only card six birdies Friday – including a team-leading two from Ras-Anderica, who was 2-under over the final nine holes.

Freshman Delfina Acosta is tied for 16th at 3-over 73, while freshman Daniela Darquea, who won the Hurricane Invitational last week, is tied for 25th at 4-over 74. Sophomore Kailey Walsh shot 6-over 76 and is tied for 47th overall. Junior Rika Park is tied for 52nd at 7-over 77.

Second-round play at the SunTrust Gator Women’s Invitational begins Saturday at 9 a.m. Live scoring will be available at www.golfstatresults.com.

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