FIU Women’s Golf prepares for final stretch of the season

Nicholas Poblete // Staff Writer

With a record of 66-33, the women’s golf team will head to a Conference USA tournament, taking place in Ft. Myers on April 17. A victory would give the team a ticket to regionals.

Prior to the C-USA tournament, the team will participate in the WEB.com Intercollegiate Tournament on April 3-4, which could result in a ranking boost. The team is ranked No. 71 in its division, according to Golfstat.com.

  In his 10th season with FIU, head coach Joseph Vogel aims to end the season on a high note by

eliminating errors that have occurred throughout the season.

“We aren’t beating some teams that we have on the ropes,” he said. “We let them off at the end.”

Although the season has had its rough moments, Vogel said he understands that during the WEB.com tournament and the conference championship, all those rough moments will be forgotten.

“For us, it’s about peaking at the right time,” he said.

FIU’s highest ranked player, Camila Serrano, is relishing the last stretch of the season.

Serrano, a senior majoring in international business, is ranked No. 82 by Golfstat. Serrano’s season stroke average is a 72.63, surpassing her career average of 74.52, and has had three top-three finishes this season.

Serrano led FIU to win the 39th edition of the Bradley Invitation, with an individual season best seven strokes under par.

Serrano attributes the success she is having this season to the work she put in during the off-season and the consistency in her game.

“I wanted my senior year to end the right way,”

Serrano said, “so I prepared over the summer, before coming back to FIU.”

As Serrano’s career at FIU comes to an end, her aim is to finish with a win at conference.

Vogel said he has been pleased with the role Serrano has taken as a senior.

“She’s been working out harder,” he said. “She’s made great decisions on the golf course.”

After life at FIU, Serrano wants to travel to Europe to participate in PGA’s qualifying school, where she will then try to enter the professional level.

For Vogel, balance is key in order to achieve the team’s end of the season goals. He is looking, he said, to his seniors to set the example for the younger teammates.

“I want them to look back at their time at FIU with the feeling they gave it their best,” Vogel said.