MEDIA GUIDE CONTENTS
USF MEN’S GOLF TABLE OF CONTENTS
USF QUICK FACTS Location: Tampa, Fla. Enrollment: 47,646 Nickname: Bulls Colors: Green & Gold Conference: American Athletic President: Dr. Judy Genshaft Athletic Director: Mark Harlan Head Coach: Steve Bradley
2017 MEDIA GUIDE CREDITS Editors: Tom Zebold Outside Covers: USF University Communications & Marketing Inside Covers: USF University Communications & Marketing Photography: Ben Soloman/American Athletic Conference, Juan Alfonso, Danielle Antonucci, Aimee Blodgett, Tim Britt, John Kersten, Steven Kovich, J. Meric, Al Messerschmidt, Jason Roberts, Shane Roper, Timothy Sofrank and Michael Wade.
PROGRAM PAGES This is USF..........................................................................................................................3-15 2017 SEASON OUTLOOK Roster................................................................................................................................... 16 Schedule............................................................................................................................... 17 Player Bios.......................................................................................................................20-26 2015-16 Recap.................................................................................................................27-28
COACHES HC Tiffany Prats.................................................................................................................... 18 Asst. Coach Kelli Pry............................................................................................................. 19 RECORDS Records............................................................................................................................29-33
GoUSFBulls.com 2
@USFWGolf @USFAthletics
POINTS OF PRIDE LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION Established in 1956, USF is a high-impact, global research university located in beautiful Tampa Bay on Florida’s spectacular west coast.
Leading
UNIVERSITY
IMPACT USF is a top research university and major economic engine with an annual economic impact of $3.7 billion.There are more than 1,500 faculty at the USF Tampa campus.
FACT: In 2014, USF ranked 10th nationally and 13th worldwide for U.S. patents granted.
ONE OF THE NATION’S LARGEST WITH NEARLY 48,000 STUDENTS, USF is one of the largest public universities in the nation and among the top 50 universities, public or private, for federal research expenditures.
FLORIDA ROOTS: USF was built on the former site of the Temple Orange Grove, the largest citrus grove in the world at the time.
ON THE RISE In U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges (2014), USF is ranked 14th as an ‘up and coming’ university among the country’s national universities. INNOVATIVE USF was the first independent state university conceived, planned, and built during the 20th century.
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LEADING UNIVERSITY
USF’S BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS OF NEARLY 2,000 ACRES IS SET AMONG PALM TREES, MODERN ARCHITECTURE AND SUNNY SKIES.
GET TO BUSINESS BusinessWeek ranks many of USF’s undergraduate business pRirograms in their Best Undergraduate Business School rankings, including 25th for Information Systems (2013).
DIVERGENT FIELDS OF STUDY The university is home to 14 colleges, offering more than 80 undergraduate majors and more than 130 graduate, specialist, and doctoral-level degree programs.
BULLS UNITE
USF is one of the 40 most diverse universities in the nation, WITH STUDENTS FROM MORE THAN 130 COUNTRIES.
Excellence In
ACADEMICS
THIS PAST SUMMER, USF STUDENT-ATHLETES HELPED RENOVATE THE TAMPA HEIGHTS COMMUNITY GARDEN
Part Of The
FACT: Eleven USF Athletics programs ex-
COMMUNITY
ceeded the national average for graduation success rate in their respective sports.
GRADUATE USF GRADUATED 89 STUDENT-ATHLETES DURING THE 2014-15 ACADEMIC YEAR. ACADEMIC SUCCES USF STUDENT-ATHLETES POSTED AN OVERALL GRADE-POINT AVERAGE OF 3.0 DURING THE 2014-15 ACADEMIC YEAR. ACADEMIC PROGRESS RATE For the second straight year, University of South Florida Athletics posted a program record in the classroom, recording an 83 percent Graduation Success Rate (GSR).
ACADEMIC SERVICES TEAM 6
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EXCELLENCE IN ACADEMICS | PART OF THE COMMUNITY
USF POSTED A DEPARTMENT RECORD 83 PERCENT STUDENT-ATHLETE GRADUATION SUCCESS RATE IN 2014.
GREAT PLACE TO LIVE
Tampa rankED as the fifth most popular American city, based on where people want to live, according to a 2009 Pew Research Center study.
GREAT CLIMATE
Average highs range from 70 to 90°F year round, and lows 52 to 76 °F.
ACTIVE LIFESTYLE
TRAVEL & LEISURE MAGAZINE READERS RANKED TAMPA IN THE TOP 10 IN THE COUNTRY FOR ATTRACTIVE PEOPLE.
LIVE WHERE OTHERS VACATION
THE GREATER TAMPA BAY AREA (INCLUDING SARASOTA) IS HOME TO MORE THAN 4.4 MILLION RESIDENTS.
THE TAMPA BAY AREA IS THE 14TH LARGEST TELEVISION MARKET IN THE UNITED STATES.
USF is located near 18 Beaches, many of which have been rated among the best in the world.
Booming
BAY AREA
YOUNG AND GROWING
More than 4.4 million people reside in the Bay Area, 40 percent of which are 34 or younger.
THIRD LARGEST STATE
Florida is the third-largest state with a population of more than 19.8 million and is expected to reach more than 25.5 million by 2040.
SO MUCH TO DO: The Bay Area is home to: five Large Concert Venues, including the USF Sun Dome, that bring major music acts to the Bay Area on a continual basis; nearly 100 Golf Courses; the top-rated zoo in the U.S., according to Parent Magazine; and three theme parks, including Busch Gardens and Adventure Island, a 30-acre water park.
GROWTH HUB
Tampa Bay sits at the hub of what are expected to be the two largest growth corridors in Florida over the next 40 years.
METRO MARKET
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater Metropolitan statistical area is the fourth-largest metro area in the Southeastern U.S. after Miami, Washington, D.C. and Atlanta.
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BOOMING BAY AREA
ALL ABOUT THE BAY
FACILITIES FOR SUCCESS BUILDING BOOM
A $33.5 million project BEGUN IN 2010 included new baseball, softball and soccer stadiums, football and basketball practice facilities, upgrades to the tennis facility and the construction of recreation fields. IT WAS Considered to be the largest athletic construction project in terms of facilities built at one time.
MUMA CENTER
THE Two-story, 51,000 square-foot MUMA CENTER provides both men’s and women’s BASKETBALL programs their own practice court, locker room, offices, film room and lounge, while offering shared training room and strength and conditioning facilities.
USF ATHLETICS HAS SPENT MORE THAN $70 MILLION SINCE 2010 ON FACILITY UPRADES, INCLUDING A $35.6 MILLION MAKEOVER OF THE SUN DOME IN 2012.
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
ATHLETICS
ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT CENTER
The AEC includes a computer study lab, a separate study lounge, a library and office space for counselors and tutors.
USF TRACK
THE USF TRACK IS ONE OF THE FINEST FACILITIES IN THE Southeastern United States AND HAS HOSTED NUMEROUS CONFERENCE AND NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS WITH a seating capacity FOR 4,000.
FACT: USF houses practice and team facilities for 18 sports teams on a close-knit athletics campus on the east end of the University.
SELMON ATHLETICS CENTER
THE $15 MILLION SELMON ATHLETICS CENTER SITS AT THE CENTER OF THE USF ATHLETICS CAMPUS AND HOUSES ATHLETICS ADMINISTRATION, COACHES OFFICES, A STATE-OFTHE-ART SPORTS MEDICINE CLINIC, A 10,000-SQUARE FOOT WEIGHT ROOM, ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT CENTER AND STUDENT-ATHLETE LOCKER ROOMS IN ONE CENTRAL LOCATION.
SPORTS CLINIC
USF’S 5,400 square-foot SPORTS MEDICINE clinic is designed with the health care of every student-athlete in mind. It features modalities and rehab equipment, as well as three Hydroworx series pools. The Hydroworx 1000 is equipped with an underwater treadmill, three current jets, an underwater camera monitoring system, and a computer control console.
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ATHLETIC FACILITIES
THE USF ATHLETICS CAMPUS SPRAWLS ACROSS THE EAST END OF THE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS.
CHOWDHARI CENTER
The Center brings the USF Golf program a long way - from not having any locker rooms and storing golf bags in trunks of cars to a country-club-like home that will help student-athletes hone their game and provide a huge boost for recruiting. “The Chowdhari Center allows us to compete with schools in the state of Florida, nationally and internationally,” said USF women’s head coach Marci Kornegay. “We’re able to offer the same package that other top teams in the country are offering.”
Don’t plan a golf trip to Tampa without experiencing the newly renovated Claw at USF. The Claw is one of Tampa Bay’s most challenging public golf courses. Featuring long, tight fairways lined with majestic oaks, towering cypress and pines, this manicured course is also one of the most beautiful.
USF’s aggressive effort to transform its athletics landscape took another step forward in September 2012 with the opening of the Shaukat and Antonina Chowdhari Golf Center. Located at the USF Golf course, the new 5,040 square-foot facility features a 22-foot-wide dual hitting bay that allows golfers to hit directly onto the driving range, a short-game facility, state-of-the-art video analysis equipment, a multi-purpose fitness center, locker rooms for the men’s and women’s golf teams, coaches’ offices, and a team lounge. The center was made possible through a gift of $1.4 million from Shaukat Chowdhari, M.D., and Antonina Chowdhari, M.D., of Tampa. Owners of the University Pain Management Center, the Chowdharis’ have also made philanthropic investments in the USF Honors College and USF College of Medicine. Dr. Shaukat Chowdhari serves on the USF Foundation Board of Directors and the USF:Unstoppable Campaign Cabinet for the College of Medicine. “This is one way for us to say thanks to USF for letting our family be involved with this kind of philanthropic situation not only in medicine and academia, but also athletics,” Dr. Shaukat Chowdhari said when the Center was first opened to the men’s and women’s golf teams. “The Chowdharis’ generous gift will allow USF to provide world-class facilities to its student-athletes and to recruit the best and brightest golfers in the nation to our campus,” USF President Judy Genshaft said. “This new facility will allow us to be more competitive and sets a standard of excellence for our students which they carry forward.”” 12
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BAY AREA TELEVISION THE BAY AREA IS HOME TO SIX MAJOR TELEVISION OUTLETS THAT REGULARLY COVER THE BULLS, INCLUDING AFFILIATES FROM ABC, CBS, FOX AND NBC AS WELL AS BAY NEWS 9 AND BRIGHT HOUSE SPORTS NETWORK.
USF PLAYS IN ONE OF THE LARGEST MEDIA MARKETS IN THE UNITED STATES.
MEDIA
EXPOSURE
FACT: USF plays in the 14th largest televi-
sion market in the United States and has all of its games carried to a national audience by ESPN or CBS Sports Network.
NATIONAL BROADCASTS: THANKS TO THE AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE’S BROADCAST RIGHTS AGREEMENTS WITH ESPN AND CBS SPORTS, ALL OF USF’S HOME GAMES ARE SEEN BY A NATIONAL AUDIENCE.
STATE’S LARGEST PAPERS THE BAY AREA IS HOME TO THE TAMPA BAY TIMES, THE LARGEST PAPER IN FLORIDA AND 19TH LARGEST IN THE UNITED STATES.
600,000 CIRCULATION THE BULLS ARE COVERED BY DAILY BAY AREA NEWSPAPERS IN TAMPA, SARASOTA, BRADENTON & LAKELAND WITH A COMBINED CIRCULATION OF MORE THAN 600,000. ON-LINE THE BULLS ARE COVERED BY DEDICATED SITES FROM RIVALS, 247SPORTS, SCOUT AND SBNATION AMONG OTHER ONLINE PUBLICATIONS.
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MEDIA EXPOSURE
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!
SEASON SCHEDULE
ROSTER INFORMATION ALPHABETICAL Name Nicole Autrique Ashley Burke Emily Cardella Shyanne Dove Diana Gonzalez Amanda Leslie Maria “Nani” Merchan Mariale Merchan Taylor Moody Maria Rodriguez Michelle Rodriguez
Nicole Autrique Sr. Mexico City
Year Sr. Sr. So. Fr. Sr. Fr. So. Fr. Sr. Jr. Fr.
Ashley Burke
Sr. Boynton Beach
Hometown (High School/Previous School) Mexico City/Colegio Miraflores Boynton Beach, Fla./American Heritage Tampa, Fla./Tampa Catholic New Port Richey, Fla./J.W. Mitchell High School Bogota, Colombia/IMG Academy Parkland, Fla./Douglas High School Caracas, Venezuela/American Heritage Caracas, Venezuela/American Heritage Plantation, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas Cali, Colombia/IMG Academy Miami, Fla./ Archbishop Edward McCarthy High School
Emily Cardella So. Tampa
Shyanne Dove
Fr. New Port Richey
Diana Gonzalez
Sr. Bogota, Colombia
Amanda Leslie Fr. Parkland, Fla.
Open Date
Close date
Tournament Location
Course
Sept. 26
Sept. 26
Golfweek Conference Challenge
Vail, Colo.
Red Sky Golf Club
Oct. 7
Oct. 9
Yale Women’s Intercollegiate
New Haven, Conn.
The Course at Yale
Oct. 23
Oct. 25
Palmetto Intercollegiate
Kiawah Island, S.C.
Turtle Point
Jan. 30
Jan. 30
Florida Challenge
Lecanto, Fla.
Black Diamond Ranch
Feb. 5
Feb. 7
UCF Challenge
Orlando
Eagle Creek
Feb. 10
Feb. 12
Florida State Match-Up
Tallahassee
Don Veller Seminole Golf Club
Feb. 27
March 1
Hurricane Invitational
Miami
Biltmore Golf Course
March 11
March 12
Gator Invitational
Gainesville, Fla.
Mark Bostick Golf Course
April 3
April 4
Web.com Intercollegiate
Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
Marsh Landing CC
April 9
April 10
Hoya Invitational
Beallsville, Md.
Four Streams
April 16
April 18
American Championship
Palm Coast, Fla.
Hammock Beach Resort
Maria Merchan
Fr. Caracas, Venezuela
Mariale Merchan
Fr. Caracas, Venezuela
Taylor Moody
Sr. Plantation, Fla.
Maria Rodriguez Jr. Cali, Colombia
Michelle Rodriguez Fr. Miami
COACHES
Head Coach: Tiffany Prats
Tiffany Prats Head Coach
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.... Assistant Coach: Kelli Pry
Kelli Pry
Assistant Coach 17
Tiffany Prats
Head Coach | 1st season | MIAMI, 2006
USF Director of Athletics Mark Harlan announced the hiring of Tiffany Prats as the head coach of the USF women’s golf program on July 11, 2016. “I am excited to welcome Tiffany back to the state of Florida and to our Bulls family,” Harlan said. “Tiffany is driven for success, brings a terrific background in both collegiate and professional golf, and has a strong and engaging coaching philosophy. She will be an excellent leader and mentor for our studentathletes.” An accomplished collegiate golfer at the University of Miami (2003-06) and a player on professional golf tours for two years, Prats was also an outstanding player on the Florida junior golf circuit early in her career. She brings seven years of collegiate coaching experience to USF, most recently spending the past two seasons as head coach for Marshall University’s women’s program (201416). Prats also had assistant coaching stints at Maryland (2011-14) and San Diego State (2010-11). While leading the Thundering Herd program, Prats guided her teams to several school bests, including the lowest round in school history at the Conference USA Championship (2015), low team season scoring average (2014-15), low individual season scoring average (201415), and the best Conference USA Championship team and individual scoring totals (2015) in program history. While at Maryland, Prats served as the team’s head coach on several occasions while the Director of Golf traveled with the men’s team. She helped lead the Terps to three first-place tournament finishes and three second-place finishes during these instances over her three seasons. She also helped guide the Terrapins to the 2012 NCAA Regional Tournament, just the program’s fourth-ever appearance. While at San Diego State, Prats helped lead the team to three tournament victories and consecutive NCAA Regional Tournament appearances during her two seasons. During her tenure the Aztecs jumped from 86th to 27th in the national rankings. Following graduation from the University of Miami in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in sports administration, Prats spent two seasons playing professionally. She
played on the Sun Coast Tour (2008-09), finishing second at Southern Dunes (2008) and third in the Prep Series at Mission Hills in Palm Springs, Calif. (2008). She played on the LPGA Futures Tour (2009) and was a member of The Royal Canadian Golf Association (2008). Prats also worked with The First Tee of Myrtle Beach and LPGA/USGA Junior Girls Golf, while also serving as assistant golf professional at the Deering Bay Yacht and Country Club in Coral Gables, Fla. Prats recorded nine top 10 tournament finishes and was a two-year team captain while playing at the University of Miami where she lettered all four years. She played in the 2004 and 2005 NCAA regionals among her 37 tournament. Prats finished 10th in the 2003 Big East Tournament and was also a representative on Miami’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee. During her junior career, Prats won the 2002 Florida Junior Girls Invitational, was named the 2003 Golfer of the Year by the Gainesville Sun and in 2010 was named the Golfer of the Decade by the Gainesville Sun after an outstanding prep career at Williston High School. A twotime all-state selection, she lost only one match in high school.
Kelli Pry
AssISTANT Coach | First season | USF, 2012
Head coach Tiffany Prats has called upon a USF women’s golf player from the past to help the Bulls reach new heights. Prats has announced the hiring of assistant coach Kelli Pry, a USF student-athlete from 2009-12 who helped the Bulls bring home the Big East title as a senior. Pry has been playing professional golf since 2014. “We’re excited about being able to bring back a Bull who played here from the 2012 championship team,” Prats said. “Kelli brings a wealth of knowledge of the game and a passion for USF that’s contagious. She’s going to be a huge piece of the puzzle for us when it comes to getting USF to the top of the AAC and in the country.” Pry helped USF rise to the top of the Big East conference in 2012, tying for sixth at the league tournament while the Bulls topped Notre Dame by a stroke in the championship win. After transferring from Kutztown University, the Coatesville, Pa., native was appointed USF team captain as a senior and led by example. Pry was a three-time member of the National Golf Coaches Association All-Scholar Team and a three-time Big East All-Academic Selection. “She bleeds USF. When they won the Big East, when she played here, they did it with no facilities like we have now,” Prats said. “She can come back in these facilities now and she can push our girls because they can see what it was like to win they didn’t have the Chowdhari Golf Center. Now it’s time to step up and bring our game to the next level with everything we have.” Pry has represented USF well since earning her Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in biomedical sciences in 2012. Aside from being a golf instructor, Pry has played in numerous tournaments as a pro, including on the Symetra Tour since June 2014. The Symetra Tour is comprised of 300-plus pro golfers and it’s the official road to the LPGA. Pry also has worked for the Tournament Players Club in Tampa since 2013. “She played on the Symetra Tour, she played on the SunCoast Tour and she played in an LPGA Event. Through the Tournament Players Club, she’s built connections in Tampa and the surrounding communities, which is going to be huge for us in recruiting,” Prats said. “She also has a lot of connections internationally, which are going to come into play for us big-time when it comes to recruiting student-athletes abroad.” Prats said Pry has a goal of becoming a head coach one day and her work ethic will pay dividends as an assistant at USF. “She’s willing to be here and really wants to work hard to see USF be successful,” Prats said. “That’s something you can’t find in many hires, someone who truly understands USF.” This marks USF’s first season under the guidance of Prats, a former University of Miami standout, who led the Bulls to a top-10 finish in three events this fall.
MEET THE TEAM
MEET THE TEAM
NICOLE AUTRIQUE
ASHLEY BURKE
2016-17: Ranked second on the team with a 75.6 scoring average in the fall... Best fall finish was a tie for 28th at the Yale Women’s Intercollegiate on Oct. 9... Was one of three Bulls to play in all eight rounds of the fall season.
2016-17: Ranked third on the team with a 75.8 scoring average in the fall... One of three Bulls to play in all eight rounds of the fall season.
Senior | Mexico City, Mexico
2015-16: Named to all-conference team... Led the team with a 73.9 scoring average, five top 25 finishes and two top-10 performances... Matched her career best by tying for third at the American Athletic Conference Championship... Helped the Bulls place third at the American Athletic Conference Championship, the program’s best conference finish since 2011-12... Also tied for third at the Clover Cup and shot a career-low 67 in the opening round... Played in all three of the Bulls’ fall tournaments, finishing second on the team with a 74.8 scoring average... Tied for 17th at the Ron Moore Intercollegiate after opening with a 3-under 69. 2014-15: Competed in all nine tournaments, shooting par or better five times ... Shot a season-best 69 (-3) at the Old Waverly Bulldog Invitational ... Finished 15th at the 36-hole Florida Challenge, and recorded a 54-hole best score of 217 to tie for 16th at the Johnie Imes Invitational. 2013-14: Competed in all 11 tournaments ... Recorded her best finish at The Waverly Tournament Sept. 30, finishing in fourth place ... Averaged 76.5 strokes per round with a low round of 69 ... Shot par or better five times. High School: Played at Colegio Miraflores for coach Oscar Palacio ... Participated in the HSBC Open in China, and the AJGA Hilton Head tournament her junior year (2nd place), and the Gira Infantil Juvenil her senior year (placing third). Personal: Full name is Nicole Autrique ... Born in Mexico ... Is the daughter of Miguel Angel Autrique ... Has two siblings - Eugenio and Michelle.
Nicole Autrique Career Statistics Year Rounds Strokes Avg Low Rd High Rd Par or Better Best 54 Top 25 Top 10 Best Finish 2013-14.......32..............2,448............. 76.5..............69..................84....................... 5..................... 213.................3...................1............................... 4 2014-15.......26..............1,955............. 75.2..............69..................83....................... 5..................... 217.................3...................-.............................. 15 2015-16.......27..............1,996............. 73.9..............67..................80....................... 6..................... 212.................5...................2............................. T3 Totals...........85..............6,639............. 75.3..............67..................84...................... 16.................... 212................11..................3............................. T3
Autrique
Senior | Boynton Beach, Fla.
2015-16: Posted her second consecutive top-10 performance at the American Athletic Conference Championship, tying for ninth place... Helped the Bulls place third at the American Athletic Conference Championship, the program’s best conference finish since 2011-12... Third on the team with a 76.1 scoring average... One of two Bulls to play in all 32 rounds of the season... Tied for 24th at the Florida Challenge to open the spring season... Played in all three of the Bulls’ fall events with a 75.7 scoring average. 2014-15: American All-Conference team member... Competed in all 10 tournaments, earning an individual berth into the NCAA Regional tournament ... Shot par or better 10 times, finishing in the top 25 six times and in the top 10 three times ... Won the Florida Challenge and placed second in the Old Waverly Bulldog Invitational ... Posted a season-low score of 66 at the Old Waverly Bulldog Invitational. 2013-14: Competed in all 11 tournaments ... Three top-10 finishes ... Recorded a season best by tying for second at Briar’s Creek Intercollegiate on Mar. 24 ... Averaged 75.8 strokes per round with a low round of 69 ... Shot par or better six times. High School: Lettered four years at American Heritage High School under coach Donna Serino... Named varsity team captain her junior and senior year ... Earned first-team all-county honors as a freshman, junior and senior. Personal: Full name is Ashley Marie Burke ... Born on Aug. 17, 1995 in Boynton Beach, Fla. ... Is the daughter of Kerri and
Jerry Burke ... Has two siblings, Jeremy and Heather.
Ashley Burke Career Statistics Year Rounds Strokes Avg Low Rd High Rd Par or Better Best 54 Top 25 Top 10 Best Finish 2013-14.......32..............2,427............. 75.8..............69..................84....................... 6..................... 214.................4...................3............................. T2 2014-15.......29..............2,153............. 74.2..............66..................84...................... 10.................... 213.................6...................3............................... 1 2015-16.......32..............2,437............. 76.1..............69..................84....................... 4..................... 220.................2...................1............................. T9 Totals...........93..............7,017............. 75.4..............66..................84...................... 20.................... 213................12..................7............................... 1
Burke
MEET THE TEAM
MEET THE TEAM
EMILY CARDELLA
SHYANNE Dove
HIGH SCHOOL: Played three seasons on the varsity team at Tampa Catholic High School... Qualified for district and regional tournaments twice. Was a member of the Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society.
HIGH SCHOOL: Played on the varsity team all four of her years at J.W. Mitchell High School... Named team captain (2015-16) and a Tampa Bay Home Team Hot Shot twice...Earned team MVP honors as a freshman... District and regional champion in her sophomore and junior years... Also served as the editor of the school newspaper and was a member of the academic honor roll.
Sophomore | Tampa, Fla.
PERSONAL: The daughter of Nancy and Mark Cardella... Born on June 6, 1997 in Tampa... Majoring in computer engineering.
CARDELLA
Freshman | New Port Richey, Fla.
PERSONAL: The daughter of Melissa and Ross Cook... Born on Nov. 14, 1997... Majoring in mass communications.
DOVE
MEET THE TEAM
DIANA GONZALEZ Senior | Bogota, Colombia
2016-17: Played in one event during the fall season, the Golfweek Conference Challenge Sept. 26-28. 2015-16: Posted first top-25 performance at the Florida Challenge, tying for 18th to open the spring season... Competed in eight total events with a 78.9 scoring average... Played in all three of the Bulls’ fall tournaments. 2014-15: Appeared in three tournaments, shooting a season-low 75 twice and averaging 79.5 strokes per round... Tied for 34th in the Florida Challenge. High School: Attended The English School in Bogota, Colombia before transferring to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. ... Played under coaches Mauricio Rodriguez and Scott Davies ... Won the FCWT National Championship and PGA Junior Honda Classic as a freshman ... Ranked No. 10 in the national amateur rankings in 2013.
AMANDA LESLIE
MEET THE TEAM
Freshman | Parkland, Fla.
2016-17: Competed in two events (five rounds) for the Bulls during the fall season. HIGH SCHOOL: Played on the varsity team for three seasons at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School... Served as team captain in 2014-15... Placed third at state with scores of 71 and 74... Was a member of Mu Alpha Theta, a math honors society, as well as the National Honor Society and the English Honor Society. PERSONAL: The daughter of Lori and Neville Leslie... Born on April 16, 1998... Majoring in health sciences/nutrition.
Personal: Born on Dec. 15, 1995 in Bogota, Colombia ... Daughter of Manuel Gonzalez and Omaira Pinto ... Has one sister, Daniela ... Enjoys reading, watching movies and dancing.
Diana Gonzalez Career Statistics Year Rounds Strokes Avg Low Rd High Rd Par or Better Best 54 Top 25 Top 10 Best Finish 2014-15........8.................636............... 79.5..............75..................86....................... 0..................... 234.................0...................0........................... T34 2015-16.......23..............1,816............. 78.9..............74..................88....................... 0..................... 227.................1...................0........................... T18 Totals...........31..............2,452............. 79.0..............74..................88....................... 0..................... 227.................1...................0........................... T18
GONZALEZ
LESLIE 25
MEET THE TEAM
MEET THE TEAM
MARIA “Nani” MERCHAN
MARIALE MERCHAN
2015-16: Helped the Bulls place third at the American Athletic Conference Championship, the program’s best conference finish since 2011-12... Ranked fourth on the team with a 76.2 scoring average in 30 rounds... Posted a careerbest finish at the SunTrust Gator Invitational by tying for 10th place...Played in all three of the Bulls’ fall tournaments and led the team with a 74.7 scoring average... Carded a 4-under 68 in her first collegiate round and tied for 12th at the Johnie Imes Invitational with a score of 68-76-71--215 (-1)... Posted consecutive 71’s to move up to a tie for 23rd place at the Palmetto Intercollegiate.
2016-17: Made her collegiate debut at the Palmetto Intercollegiate Oct. 23-25.
Sophomore | Caracas, Venezuela
HIGH SCHOOL: Earned four varsity letters for American Heritage in Plantation, Fla., under head coach Linda Sibio ... Named the Miami Herald’s Player of the Year as a junior and a senior ... Named the Sun Sentinel’s Player of the Year as a junior and a senior ... Captained American Heritage’s team in 2014-15.
Freshman | Caracas, Venezuela
HIGH SCHOOL: Played on the varsity her entire career at American Heritage High School in Plantation, Fla. PERSONAL: The daughter of Maria Nunez and Angel Merchan... Born on April 1, 1998... Played golf for Venezuela’s national team... Sister, Maria, also plays golf for USF.
PERSONAL: Born Maria Andreina on July 19, 1996 in Caracas, Venezuela ... Parents are Lupe Nunez and Angel Merchan ... Sister, Maria Alejandra, signed with USF and will play golf for the Bulls as a freshman in the fall of 2016... Cousin, Jorge Garcia, plays golf at the University of Florida.
Maria Merchan Career Statistics Year Rounds Strokes Avg Low Rd High Rd Par or Better Best 54 Top 25 Top 10 Best Finish 2015-16.......30..............2,287............. 76.2..............68..................87....................... 6..................... 215.................3...................1........................... T10 Totals...........30..............2,287............. 76.2..............68..................87....................... 6..................... 215.................3...................1........................... T10
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MERCHAN
MERCHAN
MEET THE TEAM
MEET THE TEAM
TAYLOR MOODY Senior | Plantation, Fla.
2016-17: Competed in two events for the Bulls (five rounds) during the fall season... Low round of the fall was a 76 in the second round of the Yale Women’s Intercollegiate. 2015-16: Tied for 35th place at the Florida Challenge to open the spring season. 2014-15: Competed in the Florida Challenge, finishing 36th with a low round of 82... Tied for 48th place as an individual at the Web.com’s April event in Jacksonville, shooting 76-74-75. 2013-14: Competed in three tournaments ... Shot a low round of 77 at the UCF Challenge. High School: Lettered four years in golf at St. Thomas Aquinas High School under coach Taylor Collins ... Named team captain, team MVP and all-county during her high school career ... Participated in the Florida Junior Cup in 2012 ... Led her team to the state tournament as a sophomore, shooting a 75. Personal: Full name is Taylor Kathleen Moody ... Born on Oct.30, 1994 in Plantation, Fla. ... Is the daughter of Chip and Suzanne Moody ... Has two siblings, Trey and Cameron... Studying accounting.
Taylor Moody Career Statistics Year Rounds Strokes Avg Low Rd High Rd Par or Better Best 54 Top 25 Top 10 Best Finish 2013-14........6.................487............... 81.2..............77..................86....................... 0..................... 242.................0...................0............................. 90 2014-15........2.................169............... 84.5..............82..................87....................... 0........................-...................0...................0............................. 36 2015-16........2.................161............... 80.5..............77..................84....................... 0........................-...................0...................0............................. 35 Totals...........10................817............... 82.0..............77..................87....................... 0..................... 242.................0...................0............................. 36
MOODY
MARIA RODRIGUEZ Junior | Cali, Colombia
2016-17: Led the Bulls with a 75.0 scoring average and one top-10 finish in the fall... Placed fourth at the Yale Women’s Intercollegiate at 2-under (6971)... Was one of three Bulls to play in all eight rounds of the fall season. 2015-16: Helped the Bulls place third at the American Athletic Conference Championship, the program’s best conference finish since 2011-12.. Tied for 15th at the American Athletic Conference Championship for the second consecutive season... Tied for seventh at the Henssler Financial Intercollegiate... Ranked second on the team with a 75.4 scoring average...Played in all three of the Bulls’ fall events... Placed 29th at the Johnie Imes Invitational with a score of 71-71-77--220 (+4). 2013-14: Did not compete. High School: Played at IMG Academy ... Participated in Junior Orange Bowl International Golf Championship ... Also participated in the IMG Junior Golf Tour placing fifth, scoring 74 and 72 ... Played at Berchmans High School under coach Luis Heressa ... Played in the South American Golf Tournament: “Copa Andes 2012,” placing second.
Maria Rodriguez Career Statistics
Year Rounds Strokes Avg Low Rd High Rd Par or Better Best 54 Top 25 Top 10 Best Finish 2014-15.......26..............1,946............. 74.8..............68..................85....................... 7..................... 218.................5...................2............................... 2 2015-16.......32..............2,415............. 75.4..............70..................82....................... 6..................... 220.................3...................1............................. T7 Totals...........58..............4,361............. 75.2..............68..................85...................... 13.................... 218.................8...................3............................... 2
rODRIGUEZ
MEET THE TEAM
MICHELLE RODRIGUEZ Freshman | Miami
HIGH SCHOOL: As a senior, helped lead Archbishop Edward McCarthy High School to the FHSAA Class 2A state title. It marked the first girl’s golf state championship in school history... Member of the Florida State Championship team as a senior after helping her team capture the title in a playoff... In 2014, helped her team capture the district and regional championships on the way to a runner-up finish at state. PERSONAL: Native of Miami... Started playing golf when she was 8 years old. Started playing competitively when she was 9 in several tournaments.
2015-16 RECAP
Date Event Sept. 28-29
Location Results
Johnie Imes Invitational
Columbia, Mo.
7th of 18 (876)
Oct. 9-11
Ron Moore Women’s Intercollegiate
Denver, Colo.
14th of 18 (905)
Oct. 25-27
Palmetto Intercollegiate
Kiawah Island, S.C.
12th of 20 (909)
Florida Challenge
Lecanto, Fla.
(individuals only)
UCF Challenge
Orlando, Fla.
16th of 18 (915)
Hurricane Invitational
Miami, Fla.
6th of 16 (864)
Gator Invitational
Gainesville, Fla.
8th of 13 (889)
March 11-13
Clover Cup
Mesa, Ariz.
7th of 17 (889)
March 28-29
Henssler Intercollegiate
Kennesaw, Ga.
T6th of 12 (916)
April 4-5
Web.com Intercollegiate
Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
10th of 16 (903)
April 17-19
American Championship
Palm Coast, Fla.
Feb. 1 Feb. 7-9 Feb. 29-March 2 March 5-6
RODRIGUEZ
2015-16 Results
3rd of 9 (910)
2015-16 RECAP
HISTORY & RECORDS
Team Titles
2015-16 Individual Results
Tournament
1 2 3 4
Nicole Autrique Johnie Imes Invitational (72) 72 Ron Moore Intercollegiate (72) 69 Palmetto Intercollegiate (72) 74 Hurricane Invitational (71) 68 SunTrust Gator Invitational (70) 78 Clover Cup (72) 67 Henssler Financial Intercollegiate (72) 78 Web.com Intercollegiate (72) 73 American Championship (72) 74
75 79 75 75 80 75 73 72 75 71 72 73 75 75 77 76 73 72
Total Finish 226 219 229 213 224 212 228 226 219
Ashley Burke Johnie Imes Invitational (72) 74 71 76 221 Ron Moore Intercollegiate (72) 75 73 77 225 Palmetto Intercollegiate (72) 84 79 73 236 Florida Challenge (72) 81 75 UCF Challenge (72) 78 69 80 227 Hurricane Invitational (71) 72 77 71 220 SunTrust Gator Invitational (70) 73 78 79 230 Clover Cup (72) 80 73 82 235 Henssler Financial Intercollegiate (72) 80 78 76 234 Web.com Intercollegiate (72) 74 78 76 228 American Championship (72) 79 72 74 225 Diana Gonzalez Johnie Imes Invitational (72) 78 74 75 227 Ron Moore Intercollegiate (72) 83 77 81 241 Palmetto Intercollegiate (72) 82 77 75 234 Florida Challenge (72) 77 76 UCF Challenge (72) 87 74 78 239 SunTrust Gator Invitational (70) 76 78 73 227 Henssler Financial Intercollegiate (72) 83 86 80 249 Web.com Intercollegiate (72) 78 80 88 246 Maria Merchan Johnie Imes Invitational (72) 68 76 Ron Moore Intercollegiate (72) 80 77 Palmetto Intercollegiate (72) 81 71 UCF Challenge (72) 78 78 Hurricane Invitational (71) 70 72 SunTrust Gator Invitational (70) 72 72 Clover Cup (72) 72 83 Henssler Financial Intercollegiate (72) 76 76 Web.com Intercollegiate (72) 76 79 American Championship (72) 86 81 Taylor Moody Florida Challenge
58 T17 T53 T11 T28 T3 T15 T37 T3 33 T46 T78 T24 T37 T36 T50 T61 T38 T44 T9
Tournament
1 2 3 4
Michelle Reyes UCF Challenge (72) 80 74 Hurricane Invitational (71) 75 73 SunTrust Gator Invitational (70) 74 76 Clover Cup (72) 73 77 Henssler Financial Intercollegiate (72) 81 78 Web.com Intercollegiate (72) 74 75 American Championship (72) 78 78
81 71 80 75 77 76 80
Total Finish 235 219 230 225 236 225 236
Maria Rodriguez Johnie Imes Invitational (72) 72 71 77 220 Ron Moore Intercollegiate (72) 76 80 73 229 Palmetto Intercollegiate (72) 72 82 74 228 Florida Challenge (72) 71 78 UCF Challenge (72) 78 70 77 225 Hurricane Invitational (71) 77 74 73 224 SunTrust Gator Invitational (70) 79 76 70 225 Clover Cup (72) 76 81 74 231 Henssler Financial Intercollegiate (72) 75 74 76 225 Web.com Intercollegiate (72) 77 75 77 229 American Championship (72) 80 75 75 230
T72 T32 T50 T30 T42 T32 23
29 T64 T45 T11 T28 T55 T34 T45 T7 T51 T15
1988-89
2002-03
Florida State University Invitational
Conference USA Championship
1989-90
USF/Beacon Woods Invitational
New Mexico State University
Mission Inn Classic
1990-91
2003-04
LSU Invitational
Beacon Woods Invitational
1993-94
Mission Inn Fall Classic
Ryder-Florida Women’s Intercollegiate
2005-06
1994-95
Georgia State/Pelican Preserve Invitational
Pat Bradley Invitational
2006-07
1995-96
Florida Women’s State Championship
Conference USA 1996-97 FIU/Pat Bradley Invitational 1997-98 Conference USA
61 T94 T69 T18 T85 T41 T68 86
FIU-Pat Bradley Invitational USF/Beacon Woods Invitational 1998-99 Beacon Woods Invitational River Wilderness USF Invitational Conference USA 1999-2000
71 78 71 79 76 73 76 79 73 87
215 235 223 235 218 217 231 231 228 254
T12 T82 T23 T72 T30 T10 T45 T26 T44 T42
Conference USA USF/Beacon Woods Invitational LSU/Cleveland Golf Classic 2000-01 Beacon Woods Invitational 2001-02 FIU/Pat Bradley Invitational University of Kentucky Invite
84 77
35
2007-08 Pat Bradley Invitational 2009-10 Eagle Landing Invitational 2011-12 USF/Waterlefe Invitational Lady Paladin Invitational JMU/Eagle Landing Invitational Big East Championship 2014-15 Florida Challenge
HISTORY & RECORDS
HISTORY & RECORDS
Team Records
Most Academic All-Americans in the Same Year
Lowest 54-Hole Total
3, 2001-02 (Crowe, Martin, Ruhe)
864, 2015-16 Hurricane Invitational
5, 2008-09 (Schnebly, Van Etten, Edwards, Lopez, Romero)
877, 2009-10 Pat Bradley
4, 2009-10 (Van Etten, Heimbecker, Lopez, Romero) Most National Golf Coaches Association AllAcademic Team in Same Year 3, 2003-04 (Ronderos, Calderon, Rivera)
883, 2012 UCF Challenge 883, 2012 JMU/Eagle Landing Invitational 883, 2002 NCAA East Regional at LSU (Crowe, Cushman, Duncombe, Martin, Ruhe)
Team Records First USF Player to Win C-USA Player of the Year Kelly Lagedrost, 2000-01 First USF Player to Win Beacon Woods Invite Sue Veasey, 1988-89 First USF Player to Win State Championship Sue Veasey, 1991-92 First USF Player to Win NCAA Regional
67 (par-72), Daniella Ronderos at 2005 USF/Waterlefe Invitational 67 (par-72), Kylene Pulley at 2007 Pat Bradley Invitational Lowest 36-Hole Total 138 (72-66), Ashley Burke at 2014 Old Waverly Bulldog Invite 139 (67-72), Nicole Autrique at 2016 Clover Cup
NCAA Records
Kelly Lagedrost at S.C., 1999
140 (68-72), Jameica Duncombe at 2002 NCAA Regional at LSU
Best Finish in NCAA Championship
Highest National Ranking as a USF Player
Lowest 54-Hole Total
4th at Ohio State, 1990-91 Team
12th, Laurel Kean, 1982-83
212, Nicole Autrique at 2016 Clover Cup
Lowest 18-Hole Total in NCAA Regional
Most Wins in the Same Year
213, Nicole Autrique at 2016 Hurricane Invitational
7th, 1990-91 Team
289 at LSU, 2001-02 Team
3, Sue Veasey, 1989
213, Ashley Burke at 2014 Old Waverly
Most Consecutive NCAA Appearances
Lowest 36-Hole Total in NCAA Regional
3, Christina Miller, 2011-12
213, Nicole Autrique at 2013 Waverly
1982-83 and 1983-84 Teams
585 at LSU, 2001-02 Team
Most Consecutive Wins
213, Christina Miller at 2011 Pawley’s Island, S.C.
1989-90 and 1990-91 Teams
Lowest 54-Hole Total in NCAA Regional
2, Sue Veasey, 1989
213, Kelly Lagedrost at 1998 UNC Tar Heel Invite
2000-01 and 2001-02 Teams
883 at LSU, 2001-02 Team
Most Top Two Finishes in the Same Year
Lowest Stroke Average Per Round for the Year
Lowest 18-Hole Total in NCAA Championship
5, Sue Veasey, 1989-90 (Three wins and two seconds)
213, (72-66-75), Ashley Burke at 2014 Old Waverly Bulldog Invite
300.0, 2011-12 Team
298 at Ohio State, 1990-91 Team
5, Kelly Lagedrost, 1998-99 (Two wins and three 2nds)
298.4 2014-15 Team
Lowest 36-Hole Total in NCAA Championship
Most Top 10 Finishes in the Same Year
Most Rounds of 300 or Less in One Year
596 at Ohio State, 1990-91 Team
8 of 9, Sue Veasey, 1998-99
14, 2011-12 Team
Lowest 54-Hole Total in NCAA Championship
8 of 9, Anna Acker, 1998-99
11, 2000-01 Team
912 at Ohio State, 1990-91 Team
18, 2014-15 Team
Lowest 72-Hole Total in NCAA Championship
9 of 10, Kelly Lagedrost, 1998-99 (includes NCAA Regional)
Lowest 18-Hole Total
1217 at Ohio State, 1990-91 Team
Lowest 18-Hole Total
287, 2012 JMU/Eagle Landing Invitational
First Team to Win the State Championship
66 (par-72), Christina Miller at 2011 Pawley’s Island, S.C.
288, 1998 Conference USA Championship at The Moores in Pensacola,
1993-94 Team at Don Shula’s Resort in Miami Lakes, Fla. (Brush, Demane, Cecil, Hedlund, Kvillstrom)
66 (par-72), Ashley Burke at 2014 Old Waverly Bulldog Invite
Fla. (Connell, Kim, Lagedrost, Phillips, Willis)
Two USF All-Americans in the Same Year
Lowest 36-Hole Total
Anna Acker, Sue Veasey, 1990-91
66 (par-70), Kelly Lagedrost at 1998 University of Florida
581, 2009-10 FIU Pat Bradley
First USF Player to Win Sun Belt Conference
583, 2011-12 UCF Challenge
Anna Acker, Sue Veasey, 1990-91
3, 2004-05 (Ronderos, Jones and Rivera) Highest National Team Ranking at Season’s End 4th, 1990-91 Team Highest National Team Ranking Entering NCAA Championship
584, 2012 JMN/Eagle Landing Invitational
67 (par-72), Nicole Autrique at 2016 Clover Cup 67 (par-72) 67 (par-72), Fernanda Rivera at 2004 USF/Beacon Woods Invite
214, Ashley Burke at 2014 UCF Challenge 214, Kylene Pulley at 2007 Pat Bradley Invitational
HISTORY & RECORDS
Individual Awards
Individual Awards Kelly Lagedrost
All-Americans
Bessie Phillips
1999
1997
Kelly Lagedrost, First Team
American Athletic Conference
2006
All-Conference
Jessica Buchta Academic All-Star Team
2014
2007
Ashley Burke
Ana Lopez
2015
Carolina Romero
Ashley Burke
2006
2016
Mary Calderon
Nicole Autrique
Gennifer Mendez
Coach of the Decade
BIG EAST Conference
Lindsey Harris
1995-2005
Golfer of the Year
Christina Jones
2012
Kylene Pulley
Team of the Decade
Christina Miller
Isabel Ramirez
1995-2005
Coach of the Year
Daniella Ronderos
2012
Conference USA
Marci Kornegay
All-Conference
2010
2005
Marci Kornegay
Daniella Ronderos
All-Conference
2004
2013
Daniella Ronderos
Amy West
2001
2012
Jessica Hayes
Coach of the Year
Christina Miller
Kelly Lagedrost
1996
Shena Yang
Kelly Martin
Kelli Pry
Fany Schaeffer
2011
2000
Shena Yang
Angie Connell
2010
Jessica Hayes
Shena Yang
Kelly Lagedrost
Rachel Edwards
1999
Freshman of the Year
Angie Connell
2010
Kelly Lagedrost
Shena Yang
Carmen Rivera
All-Tournament Team
1998
2007
Angie Connell
Gennifer Mendez
Mimi Kim
Mimi Kim 1996 Cecilia Hedlund Bessie Phillips Angela Willis
Susan Holt
Angie Connell Kelly Lagedrost Freshman of the Year 2005 Christina Jones All-Freshman Team 2004 Daniella Ronderos
Susan Holt 1999 Susan Holt 2001 Susan Holt Metro All-Conference 1991 Anna Acker Margie Arnold Cynthia Hough Jeanie Holloway Susan Veasey
HISTORY & RECORDS