Miami Paces the Field through Two Rounds
Round 1 Results | Round 2 Results
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – After setting a tournament record in the opening round of competition, the No. 24-ranked University of Miami golf team boasts a three-stroke lead on the competition heading into Sunday’s final round at the Florida Gators Invitational.
Competing at the par 70, 6,701-yard Marl Bostick Golf Course, the Hurricanes got off to blazing start on Saturday, carding an eight-under, 272 in the opening round of competition. Heading into the second round of action, a quartet of Hurricanes ranked in the top 10 of the individual leaderboard, while the Hurricanes shattered the previous tournament record (279) set by Florida in 2018.
“The first round was awesome,” Miami head coach Patti Rizzo said. “They came out of the gate charging. The second round wasn’t bad either, but I think the entire field got tired walking 36 holes and pushing their carts.”
Overall, the Hurricanes wrapped up the first pair of rounds with a score of three-under, 557.
“I feel really good about tomorrow,” Rizzo said. “They worked very hard the past two weeks and it looks like it is paying off.”
Junior Macarena Aguilera led Miami through the opening pair of rounds and sits in a tie for second on the overall leaderboard with a score of two-under, 138. Sitting at one-over par with 11 holes to go, the Buenos Aires, Argentina, native tallied three birdies and eight par holes to enter the final day of competition just a stroke back from the overall leader, Emily Hawkins of Campbell.
“I walked with Maca all day and she hit the ball so solid and straight,” Rizzo said. “The best I’ve ever seen her hit it.”
In a dominant opening round, junior Renate Grimstad paced the Hurricanes with a three-under, 67, performance, registering four birdies and 17 par or better holes.
Overall, the Bergen, Norway, native posted seven birdies to close out Saturday with an even-par, 140, sitting in a tie for ninth alongside sophomore Kristyna Frydlova.
Collecting six birdies through the opening two rounds of play, Frydlova closed out the afternoon at even-par maintaining a top-10 position. The sophomore collected five of the six birdies through the opening 18 holes, where Frydlova carded a two-under, 68.
Freshman Anna Backman, the reigning ACC Golfer of the Month, carded a quintet of birdies in the opening round of competition, including four over a five hole stretch, to wrap-up the opening 18 holes tied for second at two-under-par.
In the second round, the Vaaksy, Finland, native got off to a slow start with four bogeys through the opening seven holes, closing out the round at four-over-par. Overall, the freshman rounded out Saturday tied for 15th at two-over-par.
Struggling to find her stroke through the opening 10 holes, graduate student Claudia De Antonio rebounded carding 23 par or better holes over the final 26, to finish the afternoon tied for 58th at 11-over. The Caracas, Venezuela, native’s second round score of 71 moved her 16 spots up the leaderboard.
Following the conclusion of the Florida Gator Invitational Miami will take a 22 day break from tournament play before competing in The Bruzzy Invitational in Argyle, Texas, April 1-2.
To keep up with the University of Miami golf team on social media, follow @HurricanesGolf on Twitter, @CanesGolf on Instagram and @CanesWGolf on Facebook.
