The top-seeded University of Florida women’s golf team advanced to the semifinals of the Hooters Match Play Championships on Monday with a 3-2 victory over Chatanooga. Hours later, the Gators were narrowly edged out by fourth-seeded LSU, 3-2.

“Overall, I thought the team played well,” head coach Jan Dowling said. “Unfortunately in match play a team can play well and still come up short. I thought everyone fought back really well. At one point, Andrea was down four and Amelia was down three and they really fought back to keep it competitive. We are disappointed that we couldn’t pull out the win, but it was an exciting match that came down to the end.”

“I think this has been a good tournament for us,” Dowling continued.  I think we have made a statement coming down here and putting ourselves in contention once again. We still have a lot to play for tomorrow and will fight to take home third place.”

Sophomore Andrea Watts (Bradenton, Fla.) was the only Gator to go 2-0 on Monday. She took the first match after defeating Chattanooga’s Christine Wolf, 6 and 4. Watts earned the Gators’ second and final win in the afternoon match by downing Amalie Valle, 1 up.

Playing at the top of the lineup, sophomore Evan Jensen (Belleair, Fla.) began the day on a positive note, taking out Maria Salinas of Chattanooga, 3 and 2. Jensen dropped the second match versus LSU’s Jaqueline Hedwall, 2 and 1.

Sophomore Marika Lendl (Bradenton, Fla.) went 1-1 on the day, earning a win in the first round over Moa Duf of Chattanooga, 4 and 3. She dropped her second match, trailing 2 up to LSU’s Megan McChrystal.

Freshman Amelia Lewis (Jacksonville, Fla.) was defeated in her first match, 1 up against Emma de Groot. Lewis dropped her second match versus the Tigers’ Mary Michael Maggio, 1 up.

Newcomer Isabelle Lendl (Bradenton, Fla.) was edged out by Chattanooga’s Maria Juliana Loza, 2 and 1, in the first match. Freshman Mia Piccio (Bacolod City, Philippines) replaced Isabelle Lendl in the second match, making her career debut for Florida. She came through for the Orange and Blue, earning the 2 and 4 win over the Tigers’ Tessa Teachman.

Visit www.GatorZone.com and www.golfstat.com for live scoring and updated results from the Gators’ match on Tuesday.

No. 4 LSU def. No. 1 Florida, 3-2

Jaqueline Hedwall def. Evan Jensen (UF), 2 and 1

Megan McChrystal def. Marika Lendl (UF), 1 up

Mary Michael Maggio def. Amelia Lewis (UF), 1 up

Andrea Watts (UF) def. Amalie Valle, 1 up

Mia Piccio (UF) def. Tessa Teachman, 3 and 2

No. 1 Florida Def. No. 8 Chattanooga, 3-2

Evan Jensen (UF) def. Maria Salinas, 3 and 2

Marika Lendl (UF) def. Moa Duf, 4 and 3

Emma de Groot def. Amelia Lewis (UF), 1 up

Andrea Watts (UF) def. Christine Wolf, 6 and 4

Maria Juliana Loza def. Isabelle Lendl (UF), 2 and 1

-UF-