SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Florida State freshman Lottie Woad is in a tie for 10th place in the individual standings, and the No. 8 seed Florida State Women’s Golf Team is in a tie for seventh place in the team standings after the first round of the NCAA Division I Championship Finals at the Grayhawk Country Club. Woad carded a 2 under par score of 70 and is within four strokes of the individual leader, while the Seminoles are tied with Duke and Stanford, and only nine strokes behind the team leader.
The field of 30 will play three full rounds (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) before the field is cut, and the top 15 teams play in a fourth and final stroke play round. After the four rounds of stroke play, the top eight teams will play three rounds of match play to determine the national championship team for the 2023 season.
Wake Forest from the ACC is in first place in the team standings with a 9 under par total of 279. The Demon Deacons lead second-place Oklahoma State by one stroke. Woad, who was announced as one of five finalists for the National Freshman of the Year award, is just four strokes behind the individual lead of Maddison Hinson-Tolchard of Oklahoma State. Hinson-Tolchard carded a 6 under par score of 66 in the first round.
Florida State equally effective on both sides of the course, with eight birdies on the front and back nine. The Seminoles, who began on hole No. 10, were a total of 4 strokes over par when they made the turn to the front of the course. The Seminoles’ four counted scores totaled 3 strokes under par on their second set of nine holes.
“We put together a good round especially after we made the turn and the wind kicked up,” said Head Coach Amy Bond. “Each of the girls fought throughout the entire round, and I’m proud of all of them for their play today. We’ll take even par in the first round. We need to get some food in them, and some rest because tomorrow comes quickly.”
Woad, the ACC Freshman of the Year, totaled three birdies and 17 holes scored at par or better in her first NCAA Championship round. She birdied her second hole of the round and was at even par when she moved to the front nine. Woad birdied two of her first three holes of the front, and closed the round with five consecutive holes at par to finish at 70.
Woad’s round of 70 is the best first round by a Seminole in the NCAA Championship Finals since Morgane Metraux also carded a 70 in the first round of the…
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