Byrne Registers Top-20 Finish at UCF Challenge

ORLANDO, Fla. – Sara Byrne opened the spring with a top-20 finish to lead the University of Miami golf team at the UCF Challenge.

“We are all a little disappointed in this week’s performance,” said head coach Patti Rizzo. “We had much higher expectations, but we know what we need to work on and will be ready for the next one.”

At the par-72, 6,349-yard Eagle Creek Golf Club, Byrne tallied three straight rounds under par – 71 (-1), 71 (-1) and 69 (-3) – to give her nine rounds this season of par or better. The Douglas, Cork, Ireland, native finished with a 54-hole total of 211 (-5) to tie for 11th.

Anna Backman tied for 25th in her first tournament of the spring. Backman joined Byrne by shooting all three rounds par or better. After opening the tournament with a 72, the fourth-year junior fired a 2-under (70) and 1-under (71) to total 213 (-3).

As a team, the Hurricanes finished eighth with a team score of 854 (-10).

Next up, Miami will hit the links in Melbourne, Fla., Feb. 20-22, at the Moon Golf Invitational.