The Gators women’s golf team entered Monday’s first and second round of the Briar’s Creek Invitational competing as a top-25 team for the first time this season.
The newest addition to the rankings proved its worth, after a tournament team score of two-over-par gave them a clubhouse lead and their first tournament victory of the season.
“I’m really happy for the team, they did a great job today,” coach Emily Glaser said in a release. “We knew we had the lead going into today and I was really happy with the way they handled the pressure.”
Monday’s first day featured a shotgun start and was supposed to have 36 continuous holes.
However, there were simply not enough hours in the day for teams to conclude two rounds, as the sun set on the golfers, resulting in a postponement during Round 2.
But once the sun rose, it was clear the Gators were able to remain focused, shooting 6-under-par during the third and final round.
While sophomore Kelly Grassel led the team during the first two rounds, Tuesday’s final round saw the emergence of a new, yet familiar face – senior Camilla Hedberg.
At times this season, Hedberg has struggled to find her game, after returning from a shoulder injury suffered in September of last year, which sidelined her for the fall season.
Hedberg was able to match Grassel’s first round score, as she recorded the Gators’ lowest round of the season at 3-under-par, improving her tournament score to a 7-over-223. She finished the event in a tie for 26th place.
Grassel is not to be forgotten, though.
The Chesterton, Indiana, native finished Round 2 with an even par score, before shooting three birdies and two bogeys in the final round, improving her tournament score to 4-under-par.
“It was a great tournament for Kelly,” Glaser said. “She’s been playing some great golf this spring, but had yet to put three good rounds together like she did this week.”
For Grassel, her score put her in second place for the event, which is her second top-five finish this Spring and the second consecutive tournament a Gator finished at the two spot.
The first to do so was sophomore Karolina Vlckova.
Vlckova had another astounding performance, shooting even in Round 3 and one-over-par for the tournament, placing her in a tie for sixth place.
The team is heating up at the right time, with four golfers finishing in the top-25 for consecutive tournaments.
“Each player had a solid round today,” Glaser said. “It’s a real testament to the depth and consistency of this team.”
Follow Justen Rosenberg on Twitter @JustenRosenberg
Camilla Hedberg putts during the 2015 SunTrust Gator Invitational.
