Women's Golf Faces Challenging Field at Mason Rudolph
Thursday, September 23, 2010 | Women's Golf
The Florida women's golf team will travel to Franklin, Tenn., Friday to compete in the 10th-annual Mason Rudolph Women's Championship.
The three-day tournament, hosted by Vanderbilt University, will take place at the par-72, 6,281-yard Vanderbilt Legends Club North Course. Play will begin at 9 a.m. (ET) Friday and Saturday and 8:30 a.m. (ET) Sunday. Junior Marika Lendl (Goshen, Conn.) will be the first Gator to tee off at 9:53 a.m. on the 10th hole Friday. She will be followed by Jessica Yadloczky (Casselberry, Fla.) at 10:01, Andrea Watts (Bradenton, Fla.) at 10:09, Evan Jensen (Belleair, Fla.) at 10:17 and Mia Piccio (Bacolod City, Philippines) at 10:25.
The Mason Rudolph Women's Championship consistently features many of the top programs in women's golf and the 2010 edition is no different. The top six teams in the nation, according to the Golf World/NGCA Coaches Poll, will be competing in the 2010 Mason Rudolph as top-ranked and reigning Mason Rudolph winners Southern California, No. 2 UCLA, defending national champion No. 3 Purdue, No. 4 Alabama, No. 5 Duke and No. 6 Auburn all will participate this weekend.
Eight of the top 10 teams in the nation, 13 of the top-20 and 16 of the top-25 teams in the country will compete in the Mason Rudolph field. No. 19 Florida is the only school representing the Sunshine State and is one of six Southeastern Conference schools making the trek to Tennessee.
Florida's participation in the tournament marks the eighth time the Gators have competed in the Mason Rudolph, with 2003's fourth-place finish being the best all-time.
Florida's lineup will be led by Piccio. The Philippines native returns this year after tying for 85th last season. Jensen and Watts are making their third appearances in Franklin, having competed in the 2008 and 2009 tournaments. Both had their best performances last season, with Jensen tying for seventh and Watts tying for 40th.
UF's only senior, Yadloczky, will be playing in her fourth and final Mason Rudolph Women's Championship. Her best finish to-date was her 2007-08 freshman season when she tied for 18th.
Lendl will round out the Gators' Mason Rudolph lineup and will be making her season debut, while competing in her second career Mason Rudolph tournament. Last year, Lendl came in a tie for 56th.
Tournament Field (Golf World/NGCA Preseason Coaches' Poll rankings in parentheses)
Alabama (4)
Auburn (6)
Arizona State (21)
California (20)
College of Charleston
Duke (5)
Florida (19)
Georgia (13)
LSU (16)
North Carolina
Oklahoma State (24)
Purdue (3)
Southern California (1)
Stanford (14)
Texas (25)
UCLA (2)
Vanderbilt (10)
Wake Forest (8)
