Schofill faces 10-shot deficit, wins Florida Women’s Amateur

Who says you have to be within five shots of the lead to be considered to be in contention? Rising Auburn sophomore Megan Schofill began the final round of the 91st Florida Women’s Amateur 10-shots back from the 36-hole leader, Madison Hewlett. Dealing with a seven-shot lead to begin the day, Hewlett got off on the wrong foot. Five-over through her first six holes, Hewlett could not find the game that got her into the final group on Sunday as she posted an 80, finishing in fifth place. Enter Schofill. Following an opening double-bogey on the par-5 first hole, Schofill immediately got those dropped shots back with consecutive birdies on Nos. 2 and 3. Making the turn at 2-under, Schofill was simply trying to keep everything in front of her. “I just went out there and played one shot at a time and didn’t worry about the outcome,” Schofill told the Florida State Golf Association. “To be honest, I had no expectations to win after my first two rounds.” Those expectations may have paid off as she built on her front nine success with three-straight birdies on holes 11-13. Capping off the low round of the day with one more birdie on No. 16, Schofill carded a 67. Thinking she was well behind the leaders who were still on the course, it was her father, Billy, who told her she had the clubhouse lead at 1-under. Sticking around, Schofill watched the scores roll in and her name move up the leaderboard. “It’s such an honor,” the Monticello, Florida native said. “I’ve played in this event for the last five years and have always played really well. So just wanted to do that again this week. I’m just beyond words right now, so happy.”