Story by Keith Jaco
Staff writer
Murray State women’s golf ended the University of North Florida Collegiate on a high note on Tuesday, March 5, shooting a third round 302 and finishing tied for eighth place.
Tournament host UNF took home first place honors with a three round total of 284-293-294?871. Sam Houston State junior Hanna Alberto, from Kingwood, Texas, took home first place for individuals, shooting a third round 1-under-par 71.
The Racers managed to move up three spots on the leaderboard on day two with the help of a pair of 73’s from senior Jane Watts, from Versailles, Kentucky, and junior Raeysha Surendran, from Selangor, Malaysia.
Watts finished the tournament with three round scores of 75-78-73?226, earning a share of 34th-place. Surendran closed out day two with three round scores of 75-79-73?227, finishing tied for 37th-place.
Head Coach Velvet Milkman was pleased with Watt’s progress as the season starts to take off.
“Her confidence is back,” Milkman said. “She’s starting to hit it well and make a few putts. Once a few of them fall that really helps.”
Senior Linette Holmslykke, from Vejle, Denmark, moved up one spot on day two, shooting 3-above-par and finishing tied for 22nd-place on scores of 77-70-75?222. Holmslykke placed as the Racer’s highest competitor for the second consecutive tournament following a 45th-place finish a week ago.
Milkman was happy to see her team rebound from their 38th-place finish at the Kiawah Island Intercollegiate last week.
“I thought we played a much better tournament,” Milkman said. “We played really well today, it just slipped away from us at the end.”
The Racers will take a week off before hitting the road Sunday, March 17, to participate in the Citrus Challenge in Sorrento, Florida, at Redtail Golf Club.