Florida Finishes Third in Season Opener

Tuesday, September 14

Charleston, S.C. / Yeamans Hall Club

8:45 a.m. (18 Holes)

Florida Gators

Cougar Classic

Marina Escobar approaches the green at the NCAA Regionals.

Florida Finishes Third in Season Opener

Tuesday, September 14, 2021 | Women's Golf

Day 2 Team/Player Leaderboard Day 2 Player Leaderboard

All five Gators finished in the top-25 with none going over par.

By: Matthew Hutchison

CHARLESTON, S.C. - The University of Florida women's golf team got off to a strong start to the season with a third-place finish at the Cougar Classic on Tuesday.

For the third consecutive round in a row, the Gators finished under par as a team. Shooting 284 (-4) in the final round as all five in the lineup placed in the top-25.

Making one of the biggest climbs in the field, Annabell Fuller turned in a 69 (-3) in round three to finish T12. She was joined by Clara Manzalini who also ended the tournament 3-under.

Two other Gators finished tied in the leaderboard right behind. Marina Escobar fired her second low round (-1) of the tournament to end T15 (-2) along with Maisie Filler. Jackie Lucena concluded the lineup at T24.

Concluding her collegiate debut, Ester Fägersten finished fourth among individuals at T36 overall.

Florida heads to the Mason Rudolph Women's Championship (Sept. 24-26) next weekend at the Vanderbilt Legends Club.

Scores

Florida Individual

Place	Player	Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Scores
T12	Clara Manzalini	74	67	72	213 (-2)
T12	Annabell Fuller	72	72	69	213 (-2)
T15	Marina Escobar	72	71	71	214 (-1)
T15	Maisie Filler	71	70	73	214 (-1)
T24	Jackie Lucena	72	72	72	216 (E)
T36	Ester Fägersten*	74	72	73	219 (+1)

*Competing as an Individual

Team Leaderboard

Place	Team	Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Scores
1	Arkansas	284	281	276	841 (-23)
2	Baylor	285	283	274	842 (-22)
3	Florida	287	280	284	851 (-13)
4	Georgia	286	274	292	852 (-12)
T5	UCF	285	282	294	861 (-3)
T5	North Carolina	289	284	288	861 (-3)
7	Vanderbilt	295	284	286	866 (+2)
8	Clemson	293	287	291	869 (+5)
9	Miami	297	284	291	872 (+8)
T10	Furman	295	284	298	877 (+13)
T10	Wisconsin	295	291	291	877 (+13)
12	Michigan State	291	287	300	878 (+14)
13	Penn State	291	293	296	880 (+16)
14	NC State	301	289	291	881 (+17)
15	Tennessee	294	294	295	883 (+19)
16	Maryland	301	293	292	887 (+23)
17	Charleston	305	290	294	889 (+25)

Quotable
Head Coach Emily Bastel Glaser…

"I thought we had a nice outing this week. Lots of positives and improvements on things we have been working on in practice. I think we can also see a clear path on where we want to improve and how to get there.

"This is such a fun group to work with. They all have tremendous work ethic and a real desire to get better. And they are great kids, the team environment has been awesome so far. Really proud of all of them and excited for the future."

Tournament Notes

Day 1 - Rounds 1 & 2

In Round two, Clara Manzalini shot the third 67 of her career with the last being at the Allstate Sugar Bowl in 2020 where she notched her first collegiate victory as Florida also won the tournament shooting 23-under.
- The under-par round marked the 12th time in her career and the fourth time at the Cougar Classic.
Maisie Filler turned in back-to-back low rounds (71-70) for the first time in her career. She now has six total.
Marina Escobar was the third Florida member to finish under par with a 71 (-1) in the second round for the 12th time in her career.
Day one debuted two new Gators in Ester Fägersten and Jackie Lucena.
- The outing was the collegiate debut for Fägersten

Day 2 - Round 3

The Gators have finished 3rd at the Cougar Classic for the second time in a row.
- Florida has placed in the top-5 the last four appearances 3rd in 2021-22 and 2019-20, 1st in 2018-19 and 4th in 2015-16.
Annabell Fuller shot a 69 (-3) for her 11th career round under par and finished a tournament under par for the fifth time.
Marina Escobar recorded her second straight 71 (-1) to end under par at a tournament for the third time in her career.
Clara Manzalini concluded the Cougar Classic under par for the second time in her career, The last was in the 2018-19 season when she ended at -8.
Maisie Filler recorded her first career tournament under par.