Golf

The Cardinals closed out the tournament with a strong showing on Tuesday, shooting a 4-over-par 284. They finished 16 shots behind tournament winners Florida, who won by a three-shot margin over North Florida. Louisville completed the two-day event with a total score of 18-over-par.

The Cardinals collectively scored a 14-over-par 574, trailing Florida by 12 shots, who leads the tournament at 2-over-par. North Florida is also ahead of Louisville in second place, shooting 9-over-par. Louisville started their spring season on Monday with a solid performance, shooting a 3-over-par 283 in the second round.

Another standout performance came from Marta López Echevarría, a junior hailing from Roquetas de Mar, Spain. She defeated Chloe Johnson with a score of 4 and 3, showcasing her talent and resilience on the course. Joining Castle and López Echevarría in the winners’ circle were María Villanueva Aperribay and Marissa Wenzler, who both had to battle in extra holes to secure their victories.

The Gators are not only the defending national champions but are also the two-time defending champions of the Sea Best Invitational. They will be the team to beat at the TPC Sawgrass Dye’s Valley Course.

While most of the team will be in attendance, senior Laney Frye will be wrapping up her time at the LPGA Drive On Championship in Bradenton, Florida. However, the rest of the Wildcats are ready to go head-to-head against the Hoosiers in match play.

Frye, a senior hailing from Nicholasville, Kentucky, was bestowed with a sponsor exemption, making her the sole amateur in the field. However, she will be joined by 15 other rookies, including graduates from the 2023 Epson Tour and Q-School.

The team boasts two talented players in Sebastian Moss and Max Kennedy. Moss had an outstanding fall season, becoming the first player in school history to win back-to-back tournaments. He currently holds the No. 12 spot in the NCAA rankings. Kennedy, on the other hand, is an experienced player who has been an asset to the team throughout his collegiate career. Blagg mentioned that Moss has been working hard and Kennedy is determined to make his senior year a successful one. Other players like Cooper Claycomb, Clay Pendergrass, and Easton Johnson have also made great progress.

The back-nine proved to be a captivating display of golfing prowess, with each player vying for a chance to claim the coveted title. The sunny skies and perfectly manicured fairways set the stage for an exciting showdown, captivating spectators and keeping them on the edge of their seats.

The field will consist of 72 women amateurs, including champions from various NCAA, amateur, and junior events, as well as the top-ranking players from the United States on the final 2023 Women’s World Amateur Golf Rankings. After 36 holes at Champions Retreat, the top 30 players and ties will advance to the final round at Augusta National.

All eight members of the Cardinals’ team took to the course for the first time since The Ally tournament in October. Carmen Griffiths led the way with a dominant performance, winning her match 3 & 1. Rylee Suttor also played impressively, coming out on top with a score of 4 & 3. Beatriz Barrios secured a victory with a score of 3 & 2, while Gabbi Bentancourt prevailed 2 & 1. Hana Ryskova sealed the win for the Cardinals with a score of 2 up. On the flip side, Millie Cottrell suffered a narrow defeat of 1 down, Carly Haines lost 5 & 3, and Molly Lyne fell 2 & 1 in their matches.