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EmailSEBRING, Fla. – Amelia Lewis is thinking about a team this week, but its colors aren’t orange and blue. The Florida freshman told her coach over the holidays that she was done with college after one semester.
“I just knew it wasn’t for me,” Lewis said.
The team Lewis has her heart set on wears red, white and blue: the 2010 U.S. Curtis Cup team.
The team’s announcement should come in February, after the Florida Orange Blossom Circuit gives players one last chance to impress the selection committee. Last year Lewis tied for second at the Harder Hall.
Lewis’ mother, Georgina, said most people advised her daughter to give college a try, though Amelia was never really sold on the idea. Georgina often places bets with her daughter at tournaments – if you do (blank) then we’ll give you (blank). At last year’s Harder Hall, she told Amelia that if she broke par for four rounds she could consider skipping college. She shot 2 under.
In the end, Amelia backed out of UCF and signed with Florida, partly because of then head coach Jill Briles-Hinton, who was forced to resign last spring.
Lewis felt the momentum she gained last summer winning the North and South was lost when she got to college. No longer able to control her tournament or practice schedule, she felt out of sorts. She says the team got along terrifically.
Lewis played in two of four events for the Gators, tying for 11th at the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown. Her mother fully supports the decision to leave school after one semester.
“I’m not going to be the one to tell her not to pursue her dreams,” Georgina said.
