Gator Women’s Golf Opens SEC Championship in Second

Friday, April 15

Birmingham, AL

Florida Gators

SEC Championship

Maria Torres

Gator Women’s Golf Opens SEC Championship in Second

Friday, April 15, 2016 | Women's Golf

By: Brianne Wigley

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The No. 8 Florida women's golf team completed Round 1 of the SEC Championship on Friday with an impressive showing. The Gators opened the postseason with a respectable +4 (292), and trail No. 3 Alabama -2 (286) by six strokes. The Crimson Tide was the only team to shoot under par. In the individual competition, junior Maria Torres led the Orange and Blue and is tied for the lead.

Torres played a stellar front nine, going bogey-free with three birdies, and she added another birdie on the par-5 18th hole to remain at -3. Torres shares the individual lead with Ainhoa Olarra from South Carolina at the par-72, 6,195-yard Greystone Golf and Country Club.

Junior Kelly Grassel also played the front nine bogey-free, while a pair of birdies on the final three holes led her to record the Gators' second under-par round of the day. Grassel will enter Round 2 of the tournament tied for third at -2, one shot back behind the leaders.

Freshman Sam Wagner was unable to overcome four bogeys on the back nine and is tied for 32nd, while junior Karolina Vlckova and sophomore Taylor Tomlinson are tied for 39th after carding +5 (77).

Head Coach Emily Glaser:
On the Gators' opening-round:
"Overall, it was a solid start. We left a few out there for sure, but I am pleased with our attitudes and I know we've got more in the tank for the last couple of days. It will be a battle, but we are up for the challenge."

Junior Maria Torres:
On leading the field after Round 1:
"Today, I was just playing hole-by-hole. Heading into the weekend, I plan to stay patient, and just focus on playing golf."

Rd. 1 Florida Scores:
Team:
1.      Alabama              -2 (286)
2.      FLORIDA            +4 (292)
3.      Missouri              +7 (295)
4.      Georgia               +8 (296)
5.      Tennessee           +9 (297)
Players:
T1.     Maria Torres         -3 (69)
T3.     Kelly Grassel       -2 (70)
T32.   Sam Wagner        +4 (76)
T39.   Karolina Vlckova +5 (77)
T39.   Taylor Tomlinson +5 (77)
Full Leaderboard

Follow the Gators: The Gators will look to close the gap on tournament leader Alabama when the Gators tee off the second round at 9:40 a.m. CT, on Saturday, with live scoring available on Golfstat.com.

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