CHAMPIONSGATE, Fla. – The University of West Florida women's golf team battled amidst another challenging field at the Rollins Legends Invitational at ChampionsGate Country Club. The Argos took seventh place in a field that featured eight top 25 nationally ranked opponents.
Millie Thompson had another top 10 individual finish, coming in ninth overall to lead UWF with a four over par.
The links style course posed challenges to each team alongside the windy conditions. There were only two rounds that a team shot under par.
UWF spent their time in the practice round working to adapt to the style of course which was the opposite of what the team faced last week. Head coach
Kristen Dorsey worked with the team on finding creative ways to get into good positions. The course favored dialed in distances but allowed for more variety around the greens. Dorsey worked with the team on using bump-and-runs and putting off the green to creating scoring chances.
The Argos had a slow start to the tournament shooting 305 (+17) in the first round, but the team battled back in the second round with a 292 (+4). That second-round score was the fourth best score for a round during the invitational.
"We went into day two with the mindset of just trying to learn from the day before," Dorsey said. "The winds got gusting up to 21 miles per hour. We haven't really got to face that in practice. We definitely struggled a bit there. It's something we will definitely be tackling in the offseason."
Thompson put herself in a fantastic position heading into the final round after shooting even through the first two rounds. The junior shot +1 in the first round and a -1 in the second. She was tied for third place after 36 holes.
"Millie has taken off a little bit in the last couple tournaments," Dorsey said. "Since her last round in North Georgia it seems like a light bulb has gone off and in her last two tournaments she's hit under par rounds."
Thompson picked up five birdies in the second round.
In the last 18 holes, Thompson shot four over to drop back into ninth place.
The Argos placed above No.23 ranked Tampa.
The invitational was the final one of the fall season for the team.
"In the past we've experienced this type of success in mid-spring and it's taken us a little bit of time to get comfortable with that success," Dorsey said. "What's exciting about this year is that we're experience that success in the fall season as opposed to the spring season, so we are a little ahead of schedule. I do see us having a really good spring and building off a good fall."
The Argos will be off of competition until Feb. 17 when the team heads to the World Golf Invitational in St. Augustine, Fla.
UWF Individual Scores:
Millie Thompson – 220 (+4)
Alia Scotka – 222 (+6)
Isabela Urruchua – 227 (+11)
Holland Davidson – 233 (+17)
Samantha Schultz – 240 (+24)
Isabella Yu Lee – 247 (+31)
