Barber Leads Owls With Top-10 Finish at Florida Challenge

Monday, January 28

Tampa, Fla.

Florida Atlantic

Florida Challenge

Photo by: ©JC Ridley/Owlpix.com

1/28/2019 5:56:00 PM | Women's Golf

TAMPA, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University women's golf team teed off the spring slate on Monday in the Florida Challenge hosted by the University of South Florida at the Tampa Palms Golf and Country Club. The Owls took fifth place in the tournament.

The tournament was shortened to only 18 holes after overnight rain pushed the start time back to 11 a.m.

QUICK HITS

The Owls took fifth place behind an overall score of 316 (+28)
The tournament field included four top-100 teams including Miami who sits right outside the top 25 at 27th
Tai Barber was the top Owl on Monday, finishing three-over par (75) to land in a tie for 10th place
Taylor Morgan had the next lowest score for FAU, carding 79 (+7) for the round which tied her for 22nd place
Arielle Keating followed one stroke behind Morgan at 80 (+8) for a two-way tie for 24th place
Amanda Leslie scored an 82 (+10) for 27th place and newcomer Rosa Barnak rounded out the team scoring with an 83 (+11) tying for 28th place
Katie Veale competed in the tournament as an individual and carded 85 (+13)

COACH NEFF'S TAKE
"You have to start some place in the spring and this was a good place to start. It was good to see Tai have a good round and put herself in the top-10. We're eager to get back out there with match play. We have quite a few things to clean up. This was a good test of golf. Even though it was shortened to 18 holes, we still were able to compete against the top teams in Florida."

UP NEXT FOR THE OWLS
The Owls will be back in action on Feb. 7 at the Ball State Sunshine Invitational in Dade City, Fla.

GOLF FORE AFRICA
All this season the Owls will be teaming up with Golf Fore Africa to raise money for clean water in rural Africa. The team's goal is to raise enough money to build a well for a village in Zambia, providing clean water for an entire community.

One well costs $15,000 to build and brings clean water to 300 people for life. Just a $50 donation brings clean water to one person for a lifetime. To date, Golf Fore Africa has built 160 wells and FAU is looking to be the first collegiate program to raise complete funding for a well.

Online contributions can be made here or by contacting Head Coach Aimee Neff (neffa@fau.edu).

THE OWLS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
For complete coverage of FAU women's golf, follow along on Twitter (@FAUWGolf), Instagram (@FAUWomensGolf) and Facebook (FAU Women's Golf).