DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.---Chattanooga's women's golf team dropped two decisions against SEC competition in the championship bracket of the Hooters Collegiate Match Play on Monday. The event is being played at the Legends Course at LPGA International.
The eighth-seed Lady Mocs took on No. 1 seed Florida to open the day. The Gators eked out a 3-2 decision winning at matches one, two and four.
Junior Emma de Groot won 1-up over Amelia Lewis at No. 3. Lewis jumped out to a 3-up lead on the eighth hole with a birdie on the par five. But de Groot was not to be denied winning at nine and 10 with a birdie and par to close to 1-down.
She squared the match with a birdie on the par-five 16th, before taking her first lead with a par on 17 holding on for the 1-up win.
Maria Juliana Loza claimed a 2&1 win in match No. 5 over Isabelle Lendl starting on hole No. 2. The sophomore from Colombia lost the second hole before winning at three, four six and seven to take a three up lead through six holes. Lendl squared the match on 14 and again on 16 before Loza won holes 17 and 18 with a birdie and par to claim the win.
The Lady Gators Evan Jensen defeated Maria Salinas at No. 1 3&2, while Marika Lendl won 4&3 over Moa Duf in match No. 2. Andrea Watts took a 6&4 win over junior Christine Wolf in match No. 4.
The Bulldogs claimed a 2-1-2 match with Chattanooga in the afternoon. It was de Groot claiming the lone win for the Lady Mocs with a commanding 5&3 win over Emilie Burger in match No. 3. Starting at No. 6, Burger won it with a par, but it was all de Groot from there. The Australia native won three straight holes before pulling away for the 5&3 win.
The de Groot win tied the match after Marta Silva Zamora won 7&6 over Duf in the second match. Milena Savich claimed a hard-fought 2&1 win over Salinas at number one. Savich led by as many as four hole with five holes to play but Salinas put up a fight but a par on three, the 17th hole of the match, was not enough to take it to an 18th hole. Loza halved her match while Stewart fell 5&4.
The tourney concludes tomorrow with a final match with No. 2 seed South Carolina. USC lost to Virginia (2-1-2) and Alabama (3-1-1) after finishing second in stroke play on Sunday. LSU and Auburn will compete for the overall title.
