Florida Women’s Golf Tees off the Spring Season at the Florida Challenge
Sunday, January 25, 2015 | Women's Golf
The University of Florida women's golf team is set to open the spring season in Lecanto, Fla., on Monday to compete against in-state schools at the Florida Challenge. The University of South Florida will host the tournament for the third-straight year.
At the 2014 Florida Challenge, the Gators finished 17-over (593) and fourth overall, while UCF, who will not compete this year, took the title. In 2013, Florida took the title by nine strokes and returns the 2013 individual champion, senior Camilla Hedberg, to the Black Diamond Ranch Golf Club.
Course Information: The tournament is being held at the par-72, 6,200-yard Black Diamond Ranch Quarry Course, in Lecanto, Fla.
Format: 36-hole stroke play where teams will play two rounds in one day.
Tee Time:
Monday – 8:10 a.m. Shotgun start
The Gators' Lineup:
Senior Camilla Hedberg: After being sidelined by an injury in the fall, Hedberg returns to the Gators' lineup and looks to reclaim her 2013 title at the Florida Challenge. Last year, she shot +3 (73-74) to finish in the top-10 at T7.
Sophomore Maria Torres: At the 2014 Florida Challenge, Torres finished T17 with a score of +6 (74-76). Her last time on the links, The Landfall Tradition, Torres showed her potential by finishing T11 with a 216 (71-74-71) total.
Freshman Taylor Tomlinson: The freshman made her way into the lineup in all three fall tournaments, notching a collegiate-best score of 72 in one round of each tournament.
Junior Ursa Orehek: Familiar with the Black Diamond Ranch Club, Orehek has been a factor in the Gators' lineup in the event the past two seasons. Her highest finish was T18 in 2013 with a +11 (155) score.
Sophomore Kelly Grassel: The Gators' newcomer competed in all three fall tournaments, earning an average of 74.3 with her low round of 71 coming at The Landfall Tradition.
Head Coach Emily Glaser says: “We are excited to get the season started and to return to the Black Diamond and the Florida Challenge. We have really enjoyed competing at this event in years past. It's a great golf course and an opportunity to play fairly close to home. The team has done some excellent preparation since returning from winter break. Our main goal for the spring opener is to compete with confidence.”
Tournament Field:
FLORIDA
FIU
Florida State
Miami
USF
Follow the Gators: Play will begin on Monday, Jan. 26, with a shotgun start at 8:10 a.m. Scores will be available on GolfStat.com. A complete recap with full results will be posted on GatorZone.com following the day's play. For complete coverage of the Gators' women's golf program, visit GatorZone.com, follow @GatorZoneGolf on Twitter and @GatorWomensGolf on Instagram and 'like' the University of Florida Women's Golf page on Facebook.
