Golf dominates at the Amelia Island Collegiate

By Reinaldo Llerena/Contributing Writer

After coming off the worst finish of the season at the UCF Challenge, the golf team turned its season around last week at the Amelia Island Collegiate, winning the event with a team score of 859 (-5). The team also set a new school record during the first day of the three-day event, shooting a combined score of 277 (-11).

Led by freshman Camila Serrano and sophomore Sophie Godley, who both shot a 5-under-par 67, the golf team were able to take a commanding 13 stroke lead after the first day of the event.

“I was not thinking about my score at all during the round,” Serrano said. “I was only focused on having fun and talking with my friend from back home who I had not seen in six months. I knew that I was playing well, but I did not realize until the end of the round that I shot five-under for the round and 11-under as a group. My teammates and I were really impressed with ourselves.”

Serrano, a native of Colombia, was named Conference USA Golfer of the Week for her performance and subsequent individual win at the Amelia Island Collegiate. She was rather surprised when she first heard that she was named Golfer of the Week.

“It feels weird because I did not play during the fall semester because of a confusion with my transcripts,” Serrano said. “Once the confusion was cleared, the NCAA allowed me to play this semester. At first, I was not playing as well as I could. However, my play soon improved and it is sort of unexpected.”

With two tournaments left until the Conference USA Women’s Golf Championship, the Notre Dame Clover Cup in Arizona and the Web.com Intercollegiate in Jacksonville, the golf team knows it needs be consistent heading into the championship.

However, senior Shelby Coyle has expressed interest in the final tournament of the year. “I am looking forward to the Web.com Intercollegiate in Jacksonville,” Coyle said. “I played very well in that tournament last year and I always get excited whenever we stay in Florida. I think its mainly because I grew up here in Miami and I am used to how all of the courses play around here.”

After the season, the women’s golf team expects to have all of its starters back for next season with the exception of Coyle, who will graduate later this year. She does have a plan for after the season, however.

“I would like to go pro after this season by participating in Stage One of the Q [Qualifying] School tournament in August,” Coyle said.

She notes that there are three total stages in the Q School tournament. If she passes all three, she earns her tour card for the LPGA tour.

“Hopefully I make it, but we will see how it goes,” Coyle said.

Head Coach Joseph Vogel was unable to comment.