GATORS ADVANCE TO NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP, WIN SHARE OF REGIONAL TITLE
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Gators women’s golf team punched their ticket to Sugar Grove, Ill. for the NCAA Championship (May 19-24) on Wednesday. Florida captured a share of the NCAA Columbus Regional title with South Carolina as both teams shot 22-over (886) for the tournament.
The Gators have now won back-to-back NCAA Regional Championships, while this was just the program’s third regional title in their history.
Individually, Kelly Grassel‘s par putt on the 18th hole clinched a share of the team title and won her a share the individual crown.
The senior carded a two-under (70) in the final round to record her second-career collegiate victory and her first since the 2016 Florida Challenge. In addition, Grassel’s even-par (216) for the tournament was one of only two even-par or better scores carded for the three-day event.
Marta Perez also had a strong showing for the Gators as she finished in a tie for 11th place at seven-over (223). For the season, it was her sixth top-25 finish. Meanwhile, Maria Torres moved up 11 spots during Wednesday’s final round to finish the tournament in a tie for 26th at 11-over (227).
Overall on Wednesday, UF shot an eight-over (296).
Head Coach Emily Glaser:
On Wednesday’s final round…
“I am really proud of our team and I am happy to be moving on. Overall, today was not our best but we will take away a lot from this event.”
On the takeaways from this NCAA Regional…
“To be able to play on this type of course, under the pressure of regionals, the week before the National Championship is a huge advantage for us. This is the type of course where taking a mental vacation at any time will cost you dearly. We expect the NCAA Championship to be like that as well.”
On Kelly Grassel‘s individual win…
“What a great event for Kelly, she played fantastic and really carried us this week. We knew she could excel on this course and she managed her game very well.”
Final Florida Scores:
Team (top six teams advanced to the NCAA Championship):
| Place | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Total |
| T1 | Florida | 297 | 293 | 296 | +22 (886) |
| T1 | South Carolina | 309 | 289 | 288 | +22 (886) |
| 3 | Florida State | 299 | 298 | 294 | +27 (891) |
| 4 | Ohio State | 302 | 289 | 302 | +29 (893) |
| 5 | Purdue | 302 | 305 | 297 | +40 (904) |
| 6 | Michigan | 312 | 293 | 303 | +44 (908) |
| 7 | Colorado | 313 | 299 | 297 | +45 (909) |
| 8 | Arkansas | 309 | 301 | 300 | +46 (910) |
| 9 | Texas A&M | 308 | 301 | 308 | +53 (917) |
| 10 | San Jose State | 310 | 304 | 306 | +56 (920) |
| T11 | Houston | 323 | 300 | 305 | +64 (928) |
| T11 | Old Dominion | 327 | 297 | 304 | +64 (928) |
| 13 | Wisconsin | 314 | 302 | 314 | +66 (930) |
| 14 | Louisville | 314 | 300 | 319 | +69 (933) |
| 15 | Delaware | 320 | 310 | 308 | +74 (938) |
| 16 | Kentucky | 326 | 311 | 306 | +79 (943) |
| 17 | Missouri State | 324 | 315 | 329 | +104 (968) |
| 18 | Cleveland State | 340 | 328 | 328 | +132 (996) |
Players:
| Place | Player | 1 | 2 | 3 | Total |
| T1 | Kelly Grassel | 74 | 72 | 70 | E (216) |
| T11 | Marta Perez | 73 | 75 | 75 | +7 (223) |
| T26 | Maria Torres | 75 | 79 | 73 | +11 (227) |
| T30 | Taylor Tomlinson | 75 | 75 | 78 | +12 (228) |
| T37 | Karolina Vlckova | 80 | 71 | 79 | +14 (230) |
Follow the Gators: Florida will look to claim the program’s third national title when the NCAA Championship begins in Sugar Grove, Ill., on May 19.
Twitter: @GatorsGolf
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Facebook: University of Florida Women’s Golf
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