Women’s Golf: ‘Hoos open UCF Challenge in ninth place

Posted on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022, 4:01 pm

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Courtesy UVA Media Relations

The No. 7 Virginia women’s golf team opened the spring portion of its season Sunday at the UCF Challenge in Orlando, Fla. The Cavaliers shot 2-under 286 and are tied for ninth place in the 18-team field. Kentucky grabbed the early lead by shooting 12-under 276. Virginia won the tournament last season.

UVA’s team scoring was led by a pair of 1-under 71s by sophomore Jennifer Cleary and senior Riley Smyth. They finished the round tied for 25th place. Freshman Amanda Sambach and junior Celeste Valinho both shot even par 72 and are tied for 38th on the leaderboard. Graduate student Beth Lillie posted a round of 76 and is in 84th position.

Sophomore Rebecca Skoler, competing as an individual competitor, turned in Virginia’ best opening round score. She tied her collegiate low single-round score by shooting 3-under 69 and is tied for ninth place. Kentucky’s Jensen Castle leads the field at 6-under 66.

Monday’s second round gets underway with a shotgun start at 8:45 a.m. Live scoring of the tournament is online at Golfstat.com.

UCF Challenge

Eagle Creek Golf Club
Orlando, Fla.
Par 72, 6,349 yards
First Round Results

Team Results

Kentucky 276
Wake Forest 277
Miami 279
Auburn 279
Old Dominion 282
NC State 282
Michigan State 284
Houston 285
Virginia 286
Iowa State 286
UCF 287
Col. of Charleston 288
Maryland 291
Ohio State 291
Minnesota 291
Kent State 292
UNC Wilmington 296
Penn State 296

Individual Leaders

Jensen Castle, Kentucky 66
Tunrada Piddon, UCF 67
Taglao Jeeravivitaporn, Iowa State 67
Rachael Kuehn, Wake Forest 67
Anna Foster, Auburn 67

Virginia First-Round Scores

Jennifer Cleary 71
Riley Smyth 71
Amanda Sambach 72
Celeste Valinho 72
Beth Lillie 76
Rebecca Skoler* 69

* Competing as an individual