SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Senior Amelia Williamson and junior Charlotte Heath are tied for 24th place in the individual standings, and the No. 8 seed Florida State is tied for eighth place in the team standings after two rounds of the NCAA Division I Championship Finals at the Grayhawk Country Club. Williamson carded a season-low score of 68, while Heath finished with her second consecutive score of 71 to give both players 36-hole scores of 142. The Seminoles counted four scores at 73 and below, finished with a second-round team total of 286 and enter Sunday’s third round six strokes inside the cut line currently needed to advance to Monday’s fourth round of stroke play.
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 on Monday. After the four rounds of stroke play, the top eight teams will play three rounds of match play beginning Tuesday to determine the national championship team for the 2023 season.
Florida State finished the second round as one of eight teams in the field to post an under par team round at 2 under par 286. The Seminoles are one of 10 teams in the field who have carded two-day scores of under par at 2 under par 574. The Seminoles are also just one of seven teams in the team standings with multiple players currently ranked in the top 25 as Williamson and Heath are both tied for 24th place in the individual standings.
Wake Forest maintained its lead in the team standings with its second consecutive under par team score. The Demon Deacons are two strokes ahead of Stanford, who carded a tournament-best 15 strokes under par team score in the second round. Wake Forest, Stanford, South Carolina, Texas, and Oklahoma State are the top five teams in the standings. Lauren Walsh of Wake Forest holds the individual led with consecutive rounds of 67 and a 36-hole total of 134. She holds a one stroke lead over Catherine Park of Southern California.
“We showed a lot of guts today,” said Head Coach Amy Bond. “We didn’t have our best stuff to begin the day, but we finished well, and have given ourselves a shot. Amelia played unreal golf today; she played her best round of the year. She really got it going; she hit some great golf shots and made some putts.”
Williamson carded a season-low and postseason career-best score of 68 in the second round. She totaled a team-high six birdies and 16 holes scored at par or better. She birded her fourth hole of the round to move below par, where she stayed for the remainder of the round. Williamson was 4 under par on her back nine, and a total of 2 under par on her final six holes of the round. Williamson began the day in a tie for 66th place in the individual standings, and improved her individual placement by 42 spots.
“My approach play and wedges worked well for me today,” said Williamson. “My birdies came from close approach shots. After the rough start today for the team, we are excited that we brought it back, and are in a good position heading into tomorrow.”
Williamson has earned eight birdies in her first two rounds. Her score of 68 is her best in her six career NCAA Championship Finals rounds, and is her best score since earning a 68 in the second round of the Florida State Match Up during the spring of 2022.
Heath carded her second consecutive score of 71 and enters the third round of play with a 36-hole total of 142. She totaled three birdies in the second round and was 3-under par over her final 17 holes of the day. Heath totaled three birdies and 14 holes scored at par to close her round. She is now 18 strokes under par for the entire spring season.
Freshman Lottie Woad is in a tie for 38th place with a two-round total of 144. She totaled two birdies and was 2 strokes under par over her final 13 holes of the day. Woad was 4 strokes over par after her first five holes of the second round, and was 2 under par the rest of the way.
Sophomore Madison Hewlett carded her career-best score of 73 with three birdies in the round. She enjoyed a strong day and finished the round one under with three birdies and eight holes scored at par on her final 12 holes of the round.
“These are the best two rounds we’ve played at Grayhawk,” said Bond. “The conditions have been ideal.”
Florida State will play in the third round with Southern California and Pepperdine with Madison Hewlett getting the day started for the Seminoles from hole No. 1.
NCAA Division I Championship Finals/May 19-24, 2023
Grayhawk Country Club/Scottsdale, Ariz./Par 72
T8/30.-Florida State, 574
T24.-Charlotte Heath, 142
T24.-Amelia Williamson, 142
T38.-Lottie Woad, 144
T128.-Alice Hodge, 153
S.-Madison Hewlett, 73
S.-Kaylah Williams, 78
NCAA Division I Championship Finals/May 19-24, 2023
Grayhawk Country Club/Scottsdale, Ariz./Par 72
1.-Wake Forest, 559
2-.Stanford, 561
3.-South Carolina, 562
4.-Texas, 568
T5.-Oklahoma State, 571
T5.-Texas A&M, 571
7.-Southern Cal, 572
T8-.Florida State, 574
T8-Pepperdine, 574
10.-New Mexico, 575
11.- Georgia, 576
12.-Baylor, 579
13.-Arizona, 580
14.-LSU, 582
15.-Duke, 584
16.-San Jose State, 585
T17.-SMU, 586
T17.-Clemson, 586
19.-Michigan State, 587
T20.-TCU, 588
T20.-Ole Miss, 588
T22.-Mississippi State, 589
T22.-Texas Tech, 589
24.-Oregon State, 590
25.-Virginia, 591
26.-Augusta, 593
27.-Northwestern, 594
28.-Vanderbilt, 597
29.-Tulsa, 607
30.-NC State, 609
