UF's Isabelle Lendl and Mia Piccio Qualify for U.S. Women's Amateur Championship
Thursday, July 15, 2010 | Women's Golf
University of Florida golfers and rising sophomores Isabelle Lendl and Mia Piccio qualified for the 2010 United States Women's Amateur Championship Monday as they each recorded top-five finishes in their respective sectional qualifying events. The U.S. Women's Amateur Championship will take place from August 9-15 at the Charlotte Country Club in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Lendl—a member of the SEC All-Freshman Team and a Second Team All-SEC selection last season—earned her spot in the field in qualifying played at The Ranch Golf Club in Southwick, Massachusetts. She carded a two-over par 74 and finished in second place, one stroke back of Wake Forest's Natalie Sheary, who shot a round-low 73 for the event.
Piccio, who led UF with a 74.7 stroke average during her freshman campaign, participated in the qualifying event at Sapona Country Club in Lexington, North Carolina. She overcame a two-and-a-half hour rain delay and registered a one-under par 71 to finish fourth, three strokes behind co-medalists Catherine O'Donnell and Katherine Perry from the University of North Carolina and Calle Nielson from the University of Virginia.
The U.S. Women's Amateur Championship is open to female amateurs with USGA Handicaps not exceeding 5.4. Qualifiers are played around the country to determine the field of 156. The 156 golfers will play 36 holes of stroke-play qualifying on the first two days. After the second day, the players with the lowest 64 scores will continue playing. From that point forward, the event moves to match-play format with the champion being crowned after a 36-hole match-play final on Sunday, August 15.
Two Gators have won this event: Deb Richard in 1984 at Broadmoor Golf Club in Seattle, Washington and Donna Horton in 1976 at Del Paso Country Club in Arden-Arcade, California. Richard defeated Kimberly Williams on the 37th hole in what was the second final match of the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship to go to extra holes. Horton triumphed over Marianne Bretton 2 and 1.
Lexington, NC—Sapona Country Club
| Name (School) | Score |
| T-1. Calle Nielson (Virginia) | -4 (68) |
| T-1. Catherine O'Donnell (North Carolina) | -4 (68) |
| T-1. Katherine Perry (North Carolina) | -4 (68) |
| 4. Mia Piccio (Florida) | -1 (71) |
| T-5. Five tied | E (72) |
Southwick, MA—The Ranch Golf Club
| Name (School) | Score |
| 1. Natalie Sheary (Wake Forest) | +1 (73) |
| 2. Isabelle Lendl (Florida) | +2 (74) |
| 3. Meredith Kotowkski (Pennsylvania) | +3 (75) |
| T-4. Four tied | +5 (77) |
