UF Women’s Golf Heads to Florida Challenge to Tee Off Spring Season

Monday, February 1

Lecanto, FL

Florida Gators

Florida Challenge

Junior Karolina Vlckova

UF Women’s Golf Heads to Florida Challenge to Tee Off Spring Season

Friday, January 29, 2016 | Women's Golf

By: Brianne Wigley

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Gator women's golf team travels to Lecanto, Fla., for the fourth annual Florida Challenge hosted by USF, on Feb. 1, for its first tournament of the spring season.

The No. 12 Gators wrapped up their fall season at the Alamo Invitational in October, by recording an under par team score of -9 (279), and taking home the team trophy. Junior Maria Torres earned her first collegiate championship at the event, using a Round 3 score of -3 (69) to tie her career-best 54-hole score of -6 (210). The Gators' last time on the links also saw junior Karolina Vlckova score back-to-back under par rounds and finish tied for second place at -1 (215).

Florida has competed at the Florida Challenge every year since the inaugural event in 2013, when the Gators won the team and individual titles. Last year, the Orange and Blue placed third with a 36-hole score of +24 (600), while four Gators placed in the top-5. Vlckova brings experience to the Black Diamond Ranch, as she was in contention at the 2015 event and tied teammate Camilla Hedberg for third overall.

Course Information: The tournament is being held at the par-72, 6,114-yard Black Diamond Ranch Quarry Course, in Lecanto, Fla.

Format: 36-hole stroke play where teams will play two rounds in one day.

Tee Times:
Monday – 8:15 a.m. Shotgun start

The Gators' Lineup:
Junior Karolina Vlckova (Unhošt,Czech Republic): Ended the fall season on a high note, finishing as the runner-up at the Alamo Invitational with a season-best total of -1 (215).

Freshman Sam Wagner (Windermere, Fla.): During the offseason, she placed third out of 135 players at the Dixie Amateur, scoring back-to-back 69s to finish at -4 (284).

Sophomore Taylor Tomlinson (Gainesville, Fla.): Owns the lowest scoring average on the team of 72.3. In the offseason, she posted a top-10 finish at the South Atlantic Women's Amateur.

Junior Maria Torres (Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico): At the Gators' last fall tournament, the Alamo Invitational, she captured her first collegiate title. During the offseason, she totaled -2 (286) to tie for fifth at the Dixie Amateur.

Junior Kelly Grassel (Chesterton, Ind.): Posted a runner-up finish at the Harder Hall Women's Invitational in the offseason, recording even par (288) at the four-day event.

Individuals:
Junior Sydney Needham (Villa Rica, Ga.): Made an impression competing as an individual at the Alamo Invitational, tying teammate Tomlinson for sixth place at +1 (217).

Senior Laura Kanouse (Boca Raton, Fla.): During the offseason, she placed 26th at the South Atlantic Women's Amateur; the senior walk-on will compete as a Gator for the first time.

Freshman Madison Pacheco (Pensacola, Fla.): The freshman will make her Orange and Blue debut by competing as an individual.

Head Coach Emily Glaser Says: "We had a really competitive qualifier in preparation for the Florida Challenge, and I think that will help prepare us for Monday. I've been really pleased with the intensity and effort level of our entire team over the offseason, and in the last few weeks as they've arrived back on campus. It's evident that our players are excited about the potential of our team."

Tournament Field (Golfstat rankings as of Dec. 22, 2015):
FGCU
FIU
FLORIDA (12)
Florida State
UCF
USF

Follow the Gators: Play will begin on Monday, Feb. 1, with updates on Twitter, as there will be no live scoring available. A complete recap with full results will be posted on FloridaGators.com following the day's play.

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