Freshman Star Leads Baylor Women’s Golf to Strong Start at UCF Challenge
ORLANDO, Fla. - Baylor’s spring season couldn’t have kicked off much better. Behind a breakout performance from freshman Amelia Wan, the No. 21-ranked Bears fired a collective 7-under-par 281 in Sunday’s opening round of the UCF Challenge, putting them right in the thick of the leaderboard-just one shot back of No. 7 Auburn.
Let’s start with Wan, who didn’t just play well-she owned the course. The freshman from Newark, England, came into the tournament with a solid 73.4 scoring average and a personal best of 71. She blew that out of the water with a sizzling 6-under 66 that vaulted her to the top of the individual leaderboard.
Wan came out firing, carding three birdies in her first four holes. Even a lone bogey on the par-4 9th didn’t slow her momentum. She bounced back with three more birdies on the back nine to close out a round that has her leading the field by two strokes heading into Monday.
“Very proud of Amelia in shooting -6 today,” head coach Jay Goble said. “She came back for the spring semester rejuvenated and ready to go. Excited for her spring to come.”
Goble’s optimism wasn’t limited to Wan. Baylor’s depth was on full display, with all seven players in the tournament shooting 73 or better-a testament to the team’s consistency and preparation. That kind of across-the-board performance is exactly what you want to see in the first round of the spring.
Sophomore Malena Castro was in the mix all day, holding steady in the top five for most of her round. A couple of late bogeys dropped her to a 1-under 71, good enough for a tie for 16th. Illinois transfer Yurang Li and junior Charlotte Brook each posted even-par 72s, keeping Baylor firmly in contention.
Senior Silje Ohma added a 1-over 73, highlighted by a birdie on the par-4 14th. She’s tied for 30th, along with fellow senior Bridget Boczar and freshman Paloma Ibarra Ambia, who are competing as individuals.
But while Baylor was steady, Auburn made a late push. The Tigers’ four scoring players combined for six birdies over the final three holes to edge ahead at 8-under 280. It was a strong finish that nudged them just past the Bears on the team leaderboard.
Only four other teams managed to break par on the day. No.
18 Mississippi State matched Baylor’s 281, while No. 12 UCF finished two shots back at 5-under 283.
Florida Gulf Coast and Penn State rounded out the top five, tied at 1-under 287.
With Baylor paired alongside Auburn and Mississippi State in Monday’s second round, the Bears will tee off in a 7 a.m. CT shotgun start. The leaderboard is tight, the competition is fierce, and Baylor’s got momentum-and a red-hot freshman-on their side.