The Florida sophomore from Italy comes from a family of golfers and has been a steady scorer for the Gators for most of the 2018 season. Ricolfi is currently the only golfer on the UF women's team ranked inside the top 80 in the World Amateur Golf rankings at No. 47.
In her freshman season, Ricolfi played just 19 rounds thanks to a deep lineup and a senior-heavy team. However, so far this season, Ricolfi has already played 19 rounds, with her scores being counted 17 times, the highest percentage (89.47 percent) on the women's team.
Ricolfi's consistency this season makes her an unsung hero of Gator golf.
Florida head coach Emily Glaser attributes Ricolfi's dependable scores to her high golf IQ and self awareness.
"She knows her game very well -- her strengths and weaknesses -- and plays to those," Glaser said. "She's definitely someone we would consider really good for team golf. You know she's going to be really consistent most times she goes out and plays."
Carlotta Ricolfi left her home in Italy to enroll at UF. (Photo: Alex de la Osa/UAA Communications)
However, it's not just Ricolfi's reliable performance on the golf course that helps the team, Glaser said. Her personality helps everyone around her, which will only improve with time.
"She's really starting to discover how she's going to be as far as the team dynamic," Glaser said. "She has a way of making people feel good and brings a good vibe to our team chemistry. She's still only a sophomore, so that's something that's going to be really important this year and certainly once she becomes an upperclassman."
A year of experience has allowed Ricolfi to adjust to the team atmosphere, but also college life in general. Ricolfi attributes her improvement from freshman year to getting accustomed to life in America, away from her friends and family in Italy.
"I think I'm figuring out better how college life is and how tournaments are," Ricolfi said. "It's totally different playing tournaments here than at home because here we have practice, tournaments, homework and classes to keep track up. I've had to learn to adapt."
After missing out on some of the biggest tournaments last season, Ricolfi said she has her sights set on qualifying and performing big at the Southeastern Conference and NCAA tournaments later this season.
However, perhaps the biggest challenge for Ricolfi this season will be having a strong mindset toward the qualifying events. Since the women's golf team only takes five players to each tournament, the golfers must compete in a qualifying round against their teammates in order to earn a spot in the lineup at tournaments.
While this can add some pressure, Ricolfi said she is focusing on improving and controlling the things she can control, including her mental game.
"I play good at tournaments, but in order to go there I have to play good qualifying," Ricolfi said. "I used to always practice things I was doing good. But now I want to improve my weaknesses, so I'm focusing on the things I'm not good at."
While Ricolfi did not qualify for the team event this weekend at the Gator SunTrust Invitational, the lone home event for the women's golf team, she will be competing as an individual.
Glaser said she hopes this small blip in Ricolfi's season motivates her to improve in the long-term so she can help the Gators when it matters most in the postseason.
"Even though we can't count her score, she still has a lot of work to help us be successful this weekend," Glaser said. "It takes a pretty selfless individual to embrace that role."
And Ricolfi is doing just that. While the sophomore won't be part of the team action this weekend, Ricolfi will be cheering on her team and hoping that her steady golf game will help her redeem herself for the next tournament.
"I'm wishing for my team to win," Ricolfi said. "But for myself, I want to have a good three rounds. I want to be back with the team and for my scores to count. The next tournament is next week so I want to do my best this weekend."
