Hurricanes Jump to Seventh at UCF Challenge
ORLANDO, Fla. – The University of Miami women’s golf team jumped three spots in the overall team standings after round two action at the UCF Challenge and currently sit in seventh heading into Tuesday’s final round.
The three-day event is being held at the par 72, 6,349 yard Eagle Creek Golf Course.
The Hurricanes posted a team score of 285 in round two – a seven-stroke improvement from its opening round tally of 292. Miami owns a tournament score of 577 after two rounds of play.
“The girls played great today, shooting four-under-par as a team,” said head coach Patti Rizzo. “We really had it going on the first nine, but gave some back on the back nine. They all looked great and it’s just a matter of putting it all together at the same time, hopefully that will be tomorrow.”
Sophomore Daniela Darquea (Quito, Ecuador) once again led the way for the Hurricanes as she carded a three-under-par score of 69, which equaled her opening round tally. Darquea enters the final round tied for eighth at six-under-par.
Senior Rika Park (Fujieda Shi-Shizouka, Japan) followed her opening round 74 with a three-under-par 69 and moved to one-under-par (143) for the tournament. Park is currently tied for 26th.
“Dani had another solid day as she shot three-under-par and Rika is looking great as well,” Rizzo said.
Fellow senior Leticia Ras-Anderica (Moraira, Spain) posted a second round score of two-under-par 74. After two rounds, Ras-Anderica owns a two-round tally of 146 and is tied for 42nd.
Sophomore Delfina Acosta (Nicanor, Argentina) and junior Kailey Walsh (Boca Raton, Fla.) rounded out the Canes’ lineup and enter final round competition tied for 64th and tied for 70th, respectively.
“Competition in Division I golf gets stronger and stronger every year,” Rizzo said. “It seems no matter how good you get you still have room to get better. To win these days you can’t be just good, you have to be great.”
Virginia owns the lead in the team standings with a two-round total of 557. Virginia’s Lauren Coughlin, Iowa State’s Chonlada Chayanun and Tulane’s Silvia Garces are all tied for the individual lead.
