LARGO, Fla. – For the first time in program history, the Saint Leo University women's golf team finished atop the Sunshine State Conference leaderboard to claim head coach Lyndsey Bevill and the program's first SSC Championship. That was not the only trophy the 14th-ranked Lions brought back to Saint Leo, junior golfer Maya Cote shot par in the final round to claim the individual title for her first collegiate win. Cote and Pia Perthen's top-five finishes earned them spots on the All-Championship team. With the win, the Lions secured the SSC's automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA South Region championship. The three-day conference championship was hosted by Eckerd College at The Bayou Club in Largo, Fla.

FINAL RESULTS

Winning the program's first team title was not the only history made as the Lions shot a tournament-best 292 in the final round. The three-round total of 897 (+33) is tied for the 15th-best score by a team at the SSC tournament and was the second-lowest three-round total ever posted by Saint Leo. Individually, Cote's 215 (-1) for the tournament is tied for the fifth-best score in SSC championship history.

 

Heading into the final round the Lions held a four-stroke lead over Nova Southeastern. Throughout the final round, the Lions and the Sharks traded positions as the Lions overcame a deficit of no more than two strokes. Saint Leo had a strong back nine as it began to pull away from Nova Southeastern late for a seven-stroke advantage after all scores went final.

Cote led the entire 50-player field after all three rounds and fought to the end in the final round to take a one-stroke victory for her first collegiate win. Throughout the final round, Cote and Tampa's Ana Maria Jimenez Rios battled for first place with Jimenez Rios taking a two-stroke lead through 12. Cote parred holes 10-16 and birdied hole 17 with par on 18 to even her round score (215) and take a one-stroke advantage for the victory.

Pia Perthen led the Lions lineup on the final day to finish in a tie for fifth place as she shot a 71. She shot a +1 on the front nine and birdied 11 to even her score and a birdie on 15 dropped her score to a -1 where she finished the round. Elena Verticchio finished in a tie for 15th place as she shot par on the back nine.

Ana Valentina-Guarderas and Cajsa Strandberg both improved their scores as the rounds went. Valentina-Guarderas carded a +3 to finish in a tie for 31st and Strandberg closed out the tournament with a +2 as she carded a trio of birdies to finish in a tie for 40th.

SAINT LEO: 1st Place – 307-298-292 897, +33
Maya Cote 71-72-72 215 -1 1st
Pia Perthen 79-73-71 223 +7 t-5th
Elena Verticchio 75-74-78 227 +11 15th
Ana Valentina-Guarderas 82-79-75 236 +20 t-31st
Cajsa Strandberg 88-79-74 241 +25 t-40th

The championship victory marks the second SSC title for Saint Leo during the 2023-24 academic year following the top-ranked men's tennis winning the regular season title earlier this month. This marks the second conference title since Marcal Lazenby was named the Athletic Director at Saint Leo.

Seventh-year head coach Lyndsey Bevill's thoughts following the first team championship in program history:
"It's always great to have the lead going into the final round"

"I emphasized to the girls the importance of maintaining their focus and treating this opportunity like any other day"

"I was pleased with their performance this week, it was a true team effort"

"We led the field in par 5 scoring and most birdies"

"Maya Cote deserves this win, her work ethic is incredible and it really paid off this week"

"Great finish by Pia Perthen with a top 5 finish as she shot two under on the back nine today to help secure the team win" 

UP NEXT
Saint Leo clinched its spot in the NCAA South Region tournament later this season and will wait to see who the Lions will compete against.