MCCORMICK, S.C. –
Lauren Patterson started her collegiate golf career as an Argo in impressive fashion as the freshman helped lead UWF to a fourth-place finish at the Savannah Lakes Women's Fall Invitational on Monday and Tuesday. The Argos finished with a team score of 891 (+27) and Patterson finished third overall as an individual with a four under, 212 over 54 holes.
The San Antonio, Texas native was just one shot off the leaders. Patterson had rounds of 72 (E), 72 (E), and 68 (-4). Patterson's 68 was the lowest round of the tournament and is tied for fourth in program history for lowest round score.
"I was really proud of Lauren," said head coach
Kristen Dorsey. "Lauren really stepped up and first tournament as an Argo freshman went after that 72 (in the first two rounds). She had a great head on her shoulders and a good game plan from tee to green. Just was super solid with not a lot of mistakes."
The tournament which was held at Monticello Golf Club and hosted by Lander was the first competitive play of the season for the Argos.
"There was some notable rust that we just needed to get off," Dorsey said about the team's performance early in the opening round.
UWF struggled to create scoring opportunities in the first round but began finding their rhythm in the second round of play on Monday. The team went from a +12 in round one to +9 in the second round.
Holland Davidson found just one birdie in round one with an 84 but improved in the second round with a one-over 73.
Samantha Schultz shot a 74 in the second round and had back-to-back birdies on holes No. 3 and No.4.
On the final day the Argos jumped from fifth place to fourth place, much in part to under par rounds turned in by Patterson and
Millie Thompson. Patterson did not post a bogey in the final 18 holes while Thompson played the final 14 holes with no errors and five birdies including three straight on holes one through three. UWF was just six over (294) in the last round.
"This is where we saw a lot of the girls kind of step up and get back into the groove of playing and get comfortable with improvement that they have made from last season to this season," Dorsey said.
West Florida will be back in action again on Oct 6 and 7 at the St. Simons Intercollegiate in St. Simons Island, Ga. and King and Prince Golf Club.
