UMO women’s golf opens spring season in Florida

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The University of Mount Olive women’s golf team opened the 2023 spring season with a 14th-place finish on Feb. 7 in a highly competitive field at the World Golf Invitational, hosted by Flagler.

The Trojans posted an 86-over 950 (316-312-322) while playing the par-72 Slammer & Squire Golf Course. Nova Southeastern secured the invitational title by eight strokes with a two-over 866 (284-287-295) and posted the two lowest rounds of the event. Rollins placed second in the team standings with a 10-over 874 (288-288-298) and Tampa finished third overall at the 15-team event with a 12-over 876 (290-294-292).

Senior Emma Leclercq led the team and tied for 36th overall on the individual leaderboard with a 14-over 230 (79-76-75). She carded three birdies and 34 pars over the two-day tournament, including a pair of birdies on par-five holes. She matched the lowest round score on the team this week after firing a three-over 75 in the final round.

Junior Victoria Morelli tied for 58th place with a 21-over 237 (83-76-78) and tied for seventh with 37 pars in a field of over 80 golfers. Freshman Nele Halbach led the team with seven birdies and registered a career-low three-over 75 in the opening round before eventually tying for 68th overall with a 27-over 243 (75-82-86). Fellow freshman Violette Daudin appeared in just her second career event and carded a season-low six-over 78 in the second round before placing 74th with a 32-over 248 (83-78-87). Senior Elise Davies rounded out the team scorers with a 37-over 253 (79-91-83) to tie for 76th place.

Freshman Olivia Gronborg of Nova Southeastern won the individual medalist honors by one stroke after carding a seven-under 209 (69-70-70).

— From University of Mount Olive Athletics