Hurricane Invitational Set for Monday
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami women’s golf team will play host to the 2015 Hurricane Invitational this week at the par 71, 6,070-yard Biltmore Golf Course. The three-day event begins Monday and will conclude on Wednesday.
THE BASICS
-54-hole tournament.
-Each team will count four of the best five scores per round.
-In case of a tie for either team or individual champion, there will be a sudden death playoff using holes 10, 11, 18 to determine a winner.
-If time does not permit, co-champions will be declared.
THE LINEUP
Daniela Darquea
-Enters the Hurricane Invitational as the defending champion.
-Owns a 73.47 scoring average through 15 rounds this season.
-Leads the team with 38 birdies.
-In her last appearance, she tied for 14th at the UCF Challenge.
-Tied for fifth at the Florida Challenge to open the spring portion of the 2014-15 slate.
-Earned All-America honors following the 2013-14 season as a true freshman.
Leticia Ras-Anderica
-Has posted a scoring average of 74.64 in 11 rounds this year.
-Has tallied 24 birdies during the 2014-15 campaign.
-Tied for 30th at the UCF Challenge in her last appearance.
-Tied for fifth at the Florida Challenge to open the spring portion of the 2014-15 slate.
-Named to the 2014 All-ACC Academic Team.
Kailey Walsh
-Owns a 75.55 scoring average in 11 rounds this season.
-Shot a team-best 72 to close out the UCF Challenge in her last appearance.
-Tied for sixth at the Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational to close out the fall campaign.
-Tied for 16th at the East & West Match Play Challenge.
-Named to the 2014 All-ACC Academic Team
Rika Park
-Holds the team’s second-best scoring average (74.00).
-Tied for 19th at the UCF Challenge in her last appearance.
-Tied for 19th in the 2015 Florida Challenge.
-Made her first appearance of the 2014-15 season at the Florida Challenge.
-Missed the 2014 fall campaign due to injury.
Delfina Acosta
-Ranks second on the team in birdies with 36.
-Owns a 76.00 average through 15 rounds this season.
-Tied for 13th at the 2015 Florida Challenge.
-Saw action in every tournament during the fall campaign.
-Named to the 2014 All-ACC Academic Team.
LAST TIME OUT
The Hurricanes placed seventh at the 2015 UCF Challenge back on Feb. 10. The Hurricanes finished the tournament with a score of eight-over-par, 872.
The three-day event was held at the par 72, 6,349 yard Eagle Creek Golf Course.
Daniela Darquea led the way for the Hurricanes as she tied for 14th, finishing the event one-under-par (215).
RECAPPING LAST YEAR’S HURRICANE INVITATIONAL
Daniela Darquea won on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff last year to win the 2014 Hurricane Invitational at the Biltmore Golf Course.
Darquea started the final round in third place, two strokes behind second-day leader Sasikarn On-Iam from Iowa State. The Quito, Ecuador, product birdied 17 and 18 to force the sudden-death playoff with On-Iam, who shot 2-over 73 during the final round. The playoff lasted just one hole as Darquea pared the par-4 No. 10 for her first college victory, finishing at 2-under 211.
As a team, Miami placed third after it posted a three-round total of 874.
COMPETING TEAMS
Daytona State, East Carolina, Campbell, Iowa State, Illinois, Kennesaw State, Louisville, Miami, Michigan, Middle Tennessee State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ole Miss, Penn State, Purdue, South Florida.
COACH PATTI RIZZO ON THE TOURNAMENT
On the upcoming tournament
“I’m really looking forward to this tournament because it is our home course and the girls have been playing it every day and they’ve been playing it very well. We have a pretty strong field in this year’s tournament. We have a couple teams that we have to beat because they are ranked higher than us, but I think the girls are ready. They are all playing great, our lineup is solid and everybody is healthy. We are looking forward to having a great week and walking away with the trophy.”
On the advantage of playing on their home course
“It’s always a huge advantage to play on your home course. We are practicing everyday on where the pins are going to be, which will allow us to put together a better game plan coming into the round.”
On the Biltimore
“It’s kind of an older style golf course. It looks easy, but it is not. If you look at the scores, there’s never someone who’s way under par. I just think the team likes it because they play it all the time and it’s home for them. It’s a beautiful venue and we’re lucky and fortune to call it our home course.”
On the play of Daniela Darquea
“Dani is getting better and better each and every year. To be a really great player, every part of your game must be solid. I would say that 99 out of 100 golfers are not solid in every area. Usually there is one weakness somewhere, but I can honestly say that I don’t see a weakness in any part of Dani’s game. She is mentally strong, she’s got all the talent and she’s got all the shots. She honestly doesn’t even know how good she is right now. Gradually she’s starting to build more confidence and that’s just going to make her more dangerous.”
On the lineup
“I think everyone in our lineup is so close to getting over the hump to where they are all playing really great. They’re playing good, but they’re just one or two shots away from playing great and that can easily be made up.”
