Zaretsky remains in lead at UCF Challenge

ORLANDO, Fla. — After firing a career-low 8-under-par 64 on Saturday and claiming the catbird seat at the UCF Challenge, Texas Tech sophomore Lauren Zaretsky remains in first place following round two on Sunday at Eagle Creek Golf Club. Zaretsky shot a 1-under-par 71 on Sunday and sits alone atop the individual leaderboard at 9-under-par (136) after 36 holes.

Zaretsky and the rest of her Red Raider teammates started Sunday’s round on hole No. 10. Zaretsky birdied the third hole after a pair of pars to move to 9-under-par which was subsequently followed by her first bogey of the tournament – her 24th hole of the tournament, the par 4, No. 15. Zaretsky answered that bogey by firing an eagle on the very next hole which aided in her 2-under-par back-nine finish. Zaretsky bogeyed twice and birdied once over the next four holes to begin the front-nine before registering five straight pars to close her second round for a 71.

Zaretsky heads into the final round with a one-shot lead over Molly Smith (UCF) and Megan Streicher (North Carolina) and a three-shot lead over three others. Zaretsky already owns three Top 10 finishes this season, but a win would be the first not only this season but in her career.

Meanwhile, the Red Raiders’ three additional countable scores toward their team total came from Gala Dumez, Kylee Loewe, and Maja Ambroziak. Dumez and Loewe shot a 2-over-par 74 on Sunday while Ambroziak recorded a 3-over-par 75. During round two, the Red Raiders’ collective 6-over-par 294 dropped them three spots down to 14th as they are now 11-over-par for the tournament.

The UCF Challenge, originally scheduled to be competed, Feb. 4-6, is on pace to finish a day early on Monday, Feb. 5. With anticipation of poor weather, officials elected to start the tournament on Saturday while Sunday was planned to be rained out. Ultimately, the course remained playable on Sunday and action continued with round two setting up a final round on Monday. A shotgun start at 7:30 a.m. CT is scheduled for the third and final round.

UCF Challenge Results (Rounds 1-2)
1. North Carolina: 279-280=559 -(17)
2. Miami: 287-280=567 (-9)
3. College of Charleston: 282-289=571 (-5)
4. Kansas: 287-285=572 (-4)
T5. Northwestern: 290-284=574 (-2)
T5. UCF: 290-284=574 (-2)
7. UNCW: 290-286=576 (E)
8. Virginia Tech: 289-289=578 (+2)
9. Kentucky: 286-293=579 (+3)
10. Michigan State: 293-287=580 (+4)
11. Kent State: 291-290=581 (+5)
T12. Iowa State: 298-286=584 (+8)
T12. North Texas: 298-286=584 (+8)
14. Texas Tech: 293-294=587 (+11)
15. Nebraska: 295-294=589 (+13)
16. Penn State: 302-295=597 (+21)
T17. Central Arkansas: 307-305=612 (+36)
T17. Old Dominion: 308-304=612 (+36)

Red Raider Results (Rounds 1-2)
1. Lauren Zaretsky: 64-71=135 (-9)
T57. Maja Ambroziak: 74-75=149 (+5)
T66. Gala Dumez: 77-74=151 (+7)
T71. Kylee Loewe: 78-74=152 (+8)
T83. Klara Hurtova: 78-76=154 (+10)

-TECH-

Release Provided By MATT BURKHOLDER Texas Tech Athletics