GATORS WIN MERCEDES-BENZ, GRASSEL FINISHES IN SECOND
Knoxville, Tenn. – The University of Florida women’s golf team captured the team title at the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championships in Knoxville, Tenn., on Tuesday. In the final round, the Gators recorded the lowest round of the day, -4 (280).
The Orange and Blue started the day in third place behind Illinois and Kent State, and finished the tournament at -2 (850), beating the 15-team field by five stokes at the par-71 Cherokee Country Club 5,897-yard course.
Senior Kelly Grassel used a Round 3 score of -2 (69) to move up two spots to finish in second place. Grassel carded a -5 (208) for the tournament, breaking her career-low tournament total.
Sophomore Sam Wagner carded four birdies in the final round to finish the tournament tied for fifth at -1 (212). Freshman Marta Perez had a solid debut for the Orange and Blue, finishing in a tie for 16th at +3 (216).
The Gators have now accumulated 103 team titles in program history. The win was the first of the 2016-17 season and the first for UF since claiming a share of the NCAA Regional in Baton Rouge, La., in May.
Head Coach Emily Glaser:
On the Gators’ win at the first tournament of the season:
“I’m really happy for the team. They came out fighting today. We talked about playing more assertively and going after it, and they were able to do that. We had a close battle with two great teams (Illinois and Kent State), and it was fun to have that experience this early in the year. I thought Kelly, Sam and Taylor showed real improvements in their game from this time last year, and Marta showed amazing poise in her first event for the Gators.”
Senior Kelly Grassel:
On the team title and her play this week:
“I’m happy with the team finish. I putted very well this week, so that was definitely helpful to be able to take advantage of some birdie opportunities. I’m excited for the year, and I’m glad we were able to get off to a great start.”
Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship Sept. 12-13, 2016 |
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Place | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final | |
1 | Florida | 281 | 289 | 280 | 850 | -2 |
T2 | Illinois | 278 | 285 | 292 | 855 | +3 |
T2 | Kent State | 286 | 283 | 286 | 855 | +3 |
4 | Brigham Young | 292 | 284 | 288 | 864 | +12 |
T5 | Tennessee | 282 | 294 | 289 | 865 | +13 |
T5 | Maryland | 285 | 290 | 290 | 865 | +13 |
7 | SMU | 294 | 284 | 291 | 869 | +17 |
8 | North Carolina | 296 | 284 | 292 | 872 | +20 |
9 | Chattanooga | 295 | 289 | 290 | 874 | +22 |
T10 | Mississippi, U. of | 290 | 295 | 294 | 879 | +27 |
T10 | Wake Forest | 293 | 291 | 295 | 879 | +27 |
12 | Middle Tennessee | 302 | 297 | 300 | 899 | +47 |
13 | UTSA | 302 | 302 | 298 | 902 | +50 |
14 | Memphis | 307 | 298 | 299 | 904 | +52 |
15 | Virginia Tech | 310 | 296 | 308 | 914 | +62 |
Final Florida Scores:
2. Kelly Grassel -5 (208)
T5. Sam Wagner -1 (212)
T10. Taylor Tomlinson +2 (215)
T16. Marta Perez +3 (216)
T51. Sydney Needham +11 (224)
Up Next for the Gators: Florida will next head to Orlando, Fla., for the Annika Classic, on Sep. 25-27.
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