Florida Gators
Dixie Classic
W-Golf Concludes BYU Dixie Challenge With Third Place Finish
Wednesday, March 25, 2009 | Women's Golf
The University of Florida women's golf team claimed their best finish of the year, concluding the BYU Dixie Challenge in third place. The squad finished the event with a total score of 915 (300-312-303, +51) and saved their best round for last. UF was led by Andrea Watts (Bradenton, Fla.) and Jessica Yadloczky (Casselberry, Fla.), who both claimed top-10 finishes.
“I am happy with the team's finish today,” said head coach Jill Briles-Hinton. “We went into the tournament with at least a second place finish as our goal, however I think the team did well on a very difficult, mountain golf course.”
Originally from Colorado, Watts was not phased by the par-72, 5,981-yard Entrada at Snow Canyon Golf Course in St. George. The freshman matched her first round score of 74 (+2) for an overall tournament score of 223 (+7), good enough for a career-best finish with a tie for fourth. Watts played well early, entering the turn at two-under, thanks to three birdies. A double bogey and two bogeys landed her with the two-over finish.
“I am very proud of Andrea,” said Briles-Hinton. “I really think that her being from Colorado helped her to have confidence on that mountain golf course. It was one of the most difficult courses and a golfer really has to play it to understand how to do attack it.”
Yadloczky earned her third-consecutive top-10 finish and fourth this season, finishing in a tie for eighth with a 54-hole score of 226 (73-79-74, +10). She was one of three Lady Gators to score a 74 (+2) in the final round. Joining Watts and Yadloczky was Evan Jensen (Belleair, Fla.), who saved her best round for last. The freshman improved her score with each round carding an 80, 76 and 74 for a total score of 230 (+14), good for a tie for 18th.
Nicole Schachner (Libertyville, Ill.) and Lauren Uzelatz (Lakeland, Fla.) both concluded the BYU Dixie Classic in a tie for 47th with a tournament score of 244 (+28). Schachner finished the 54-hole event with an 83 (+11) to add to her previous rounds of 79 and 82. Uzelatz improved her second-round score by eight strokes, carding a nine-over 81 in her final round.
Denver claimed the team title with a total score of 877 (287-292-291, +13), an impressive 21 strokes ahead of second place Colorado State (899, +35). The Pioneers' Dawn Shockley and Ellie Givens took first and second place with a 216 (E) and 221 (+5), respectively.
The Lady Gators return to Gainesville to host the 37th annual SunTrust Lady Gator Invitational on April 6-7 and Coach Briles-Hinton believes the team has much confidence heading into the event.
“I think that this tournament exposed some weaknesses,” said the 2008 SEC Coach of the Year. “The team now knows what they need to work on. I know that they are fully committed to putting in the work and getting better. Needless to say, I am proud of their effort this week.”
Admission to the Lady Gator Invitational is free and live scoring can be found at www.GatorZone.com and www.golfstat.com.
Team Results Through Round 3
| Place | School | Score |
| 1. | Denver | 287-292-291—877 (+13) |
| 2. | Colorado State | 299-308-292—899 (+35) |
| 3. | Florida | 300-312-303—915 (+51) |
| 4. | Washington | 308-312-304—924 (+60) |
| 5. | San Diego State | 311-312-309—932(+68) |
| 6. | BYU | 315-312-307—934 (+70) |
| 7. | New Mexico State | 314-317-305—936 (+72) |
| 8. | Texas State | 313-321-308—942 (+78) |
| 9. | Wyoming | 301-324-322—947 (+83) |
| 10. | Northern Arizona | 312-328-310—950 (+86) |
| 11. | North Texas | 315-316-321—952 (+88) |
| 12. | Weber State | 326-344-312—982 (+118) |
| 13. | Southern Utah | 330-346-330—1006 (+142) |
| 14. | Utah Valley | 335-341-340—1016 (+152) |
| 15. | Idaho State | 352-340-348—1040 (+176) |
Individual Top 10 Through Round 3
| Place | Player (School) | Score |
| 1. | Dawn Shockley (Denver) | 74-72-70—216 (E) |
| 2. | Ellie Givens (Denver) | 74-74-73—221 (+5) |
| 3. | Malin Enarsson (San Diego State) | 71-77-74—222 (+6) |
| T4. | Andrea Watts (Florida) | 74-75-74—223 (+7) |
| T4. | Natalie Stone (Colorado State) | 74-75-74—223 (+7) |
| 6 | Katie Kempter (Denver) | 72-76-76—224 (+8) |
| 7 | Brianna Espinoza (Colorado State) | 77-77-71—225 (+9) |
| T8. | Jessica Yadloczky (Florida) | 73-79-74—226 (+10) |
| T8. | Sarah Faller (Denver) | 69-77-80—226 (+10) |
| T8. | Gabby De Reuck (Texas State) | 71-78-77—226 (+10) |
Florida Results After Round 3
| Place | Player | Score |
| T4. | Andrea Watts | 74-75-74—223 (+7) |
| T8. | Jessica Yadloczky | 73-79-74—226 (+10) |
| T18. | Evan Jensen | 80-76-74—230 (+14) |
| T47. | Nicole Schachner | 79-82-83—244 (+28) |
| T47. | Lauren Uzelatz | 74-89-81—244 (+28) |
-UF-
