Alabama
Moon Golf Invitational
Women’s Golf Climbs Six Spots at Moon Golf Invitational, Finishes in Fourth Place after Lowest Round of the Tournament
2/22/2022 3:30:00 PM | Women's Golf
Alabama turned in a 9-under-par 279 in the final round
MELBOURNE, Fla. – The No. 9 University of Alabama women's golf team proved it has the ability to fight through adversity after its spring opener at the Moon Golf Invitational at the Suntree Country Club in Melbourne, Fla.
The Crimson Tide made up 18 strokes from its first round to its final round to climb six spots up the leaderboard and finish in fourth place with a 2-under-par 862 tournament total.
The star-studded field was led by Florida State wire-to-wire, earning first place on a 10-under-par 854. No. 8 Virginia finished in second place with a 4-under-par 860, followed by No. 21 LSU in third place with a 3-under-par 861.
After beginning the tournament in 10th place with a 9-over-par 297 Sunday, Alabama put together back-to-back, under-par rounds of 2-under-par 286 and 9-under-par 279 Monday and Tuesday, respectively, to surge up the leaderboard. UA's final-round nine under was the lowest round of the tournament, among 45 rounds, by at least two strokes. To further make UA's case of resiliency, it posted the lowest score of the day after both the second round and final round.
The Crimson Tide improved its streak of finishing in fourth place or better, which the team has done all season long (five tournaments).
Polly Mack brought her hot hands into the final round, posting a 3-under-par 69 on six birdies and just two bogeys Tuesday. The fifth year tied her second-best tournament total on the season at 4-under-par 212, while also tying her best finish of the season in eighth place.
It was the third time she has finished in the top 10 this season, while she continues her streak of finishing in the top 15 in every tournament this season.
Mack collected a team-best 15 birdies on the weekend.
Mack wasn't the only Crimson Tide player to crack the top 10 though, as Angelica Moresco paced the team in the final round on a 4-under-par 68 Tuesday, which also tied for the lowest score on the day. She added that to her first-round even par and her second-round 74 to record a 2-under-par 214 tournament total and a tie for 10th place.
It marked Moresco's first top-ten finish since Fall 2020.
Her younger sister Benedetta Moresco continued to prove why she is ranked in college women's golf's top five.
After recording an unusual 8-over-par 80 in the first round Sunday, Moresco put together back-to-back under par rounds to attempt a comeback. The sophomore recorded a 2-under-par 70 in the second round and a 3-under-par 69 in the final round to hand over a 3-over-par 219 tournament total, good for a share of 23rd place.
Despite it being her first over-par tournament total and above top-15 finish this season, her ability to fight through adversity shined down the stretch.
Isabella van der Biest, who joined the Alabama lineup for the first time in her career this week, contributed to the team score all three rounds. The freshman concluded the Moon Golf Invitational with a 1-over-par 73 in the final round to turn in a 4-over-par 220, tying for 26th place with teammate Sarah Edwards.
Competing as an individual, Edwards scored matching rounds of 1-under-par 71 Monday and Tuesday to cap the Moon Golf Invitational with a 4-over-par 220.
Emilie Øverås earned an 11-over-par 227 at the tournament, earning a share of 65th place.
FROM HEAD COACH MIC POTTER
"I am incredibly proud of our team this week. They are a talented group, but more importantly, they have a knack for overcoming adversity that will pay dividends come postseason. We were the first out today and took advantage of having a little less wind early on. I was impressed with the way we finished the round and posted a score. It is great to see Benedetta (Moresco) post another subpar score after a rocky start. Polly (Mack) and Benedetta both finished at 3-under to compliment Angelica's (Moresco) 68. Isabella (van der Biest) was able to bounce back from a triple bogey at No. 11 to shoot 1-over, which proved to be a critical score."
RESULTS
- 8th Polly Mack 4-under-par 212
- T10 Angelica Moresco 2-under-par 214
- T23 Benedetta Moresco 3-over-par 219
- T26 Isabella van der Biest 4-over-par 220
- T26 Sarah Edwards 4-over-par 220
- T65 Emilie Øverås 11-over-par 227
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Players Mentioned
