CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The No. 7 Virginia women’s golf team opens the spring portion of its schedule at this weekend’s UCF Challenge in Orlando, Fla. The 18-team field will compete at Eagle Creek Golf Club (par 72, 6,349 yards) with 18 holes of competition slated for Sunday through Tuesday. A shotgun start is scheduled for all three rounds at 8:45 a.m.
Last year UVA overcame an 11-shot deficit during the final round to win the event. The Cavaliers shot 1-under 287 during the final 18 holes to post a three-day total of 5-under 859 to take home the team title. The Hoos finished one stroke ahead of second-place Wake Forest. The Cavaliers were the only team in the 17-school field to shoot under par during each of the final two rounds.
Beth Lillie and Celeste Valinho led the Cavaliers by tying for third place at 2-under 214. Riley Smyth was seventh at 215 and Jennifer Cleary was 10th at 216.
All four of those players are back in UVA’s lineup this year along with freshman Amanda Sambach. Rebecca Skoler will be competing as an individual competitor.
The 18-team field includes Auburn, College of Charleston, Houston, Iowa State, Kent State, Kentucky, Maryland, Miami, Michigan State, Minnesota, NC State, Ohio State, Old Dominion, Penn State, UCF, UNC Wilmington, Virginia and Wake Forest.
Periodic live scoring of the event is online at Golfstat.com.