Regardless of the location, moving to a different country at a young age is a life-changing experience.
For sophomore Karolina Vlckova, the transition of becoming a Division I athlete in a foreign country has greatly benefited her.
That has especially this season, as she has emerged as one of the top golfers on the Gator’s roster.
"She’s very mature, but she’s come into her own this year a little bit where she’s recognizing her strengths and how those can benefit her," Gators women’s golf coach Emily Glaser said. "(She’s) doing a good job of focusing on herself and what she needs to get better at, on and off the golf course."
But before Vlckova was able to come into her own, the Czech Republic native was battling through the struggles of being an international student-athlete.
"Back in Europe, especially where I am from, it’s not like here that in high school you play a team sport for a school," Vlckova said. "You can’t play sports and do university undergrad back home. It’s not possible.
"It was tough because when I missed school — of course it was professor from professor — most of them didn’t really care. If you miss, you miss."
Fortunately for Vlckova, she had the opportunity to come to Florida early — a place where she was able to balance school and golf — as she enrolled at the university prior to the start of the 2013 Fall season. For her, this made her transition period on the golf course that much smoother.
"She did a good job of adjusting," Glaser said. "She’s able to blend the two together which is what you need to be a successful student-athlete at a place like Florida."
The early move paid off.
In her first collegiate tournament, Vlckova helped lead the Gators to a first-place finish in the Cougar Classic. On an individual level, Vlckova finished the tournament at 2-under-par and in a tie for sixth place — her first of three top-25 finishes that season.
After having success in her first year, Vlckova was able to take the next step as a sophomore.
Throughout Fall and Spring, Vlckova has been the best golfer on the roster, closing out the regular season with five top-25 finishes.
Of those five, Vlckova has placed in the top six four times, including the team’s final three regular season tournaments.
"I was so happy to finish three times in a row like that," Vlckova said. "That showed me that I’m working on the right things and ... I want to be consistent."
Entering the postseason, Vlckova has been able to obtain her goal of being consistent, which has greatly benefited the team. When Vlckova finishes in the top six, the Gators as a group are successful, finishing in the top four each time.
Her best finish of the season came during the team’s lone home tournament — the SunTrust Gator Invitational. Vlckova shot 1-over-par during the final two rounds, putting her in a tie for second place on the individual leaderboard.
Her consistency can be credited in large part to a change in clubs at the start of the season.
"She’s always been a good ball striker, but when she found clubs that fit her very well and were very forgiving, then you can take it to the next level," Glaser said. "I think that’s where the change has really helped her, mostly from a confidence standpoint."
But despite her recent success, Vlckova remains focused heading into the postseason and is aware that she must continue working on improving her game.
"I’m going to work on technique and then the next week before the tournament I’m going to just get ready like for another tournament," Vlckova said. "They’re the same players, the same teams, it’s just a different name of the tournament."
That tournament she is referring to is the Southeastern Conference Championship – an event the Gators have not won since the 2007-08 season.
However, with Vlckova leading the way in the past months, the Gators are in a position to change that.
Outside of Vlckova, the Gators lineup will feature seniors Camilla Hedberg and Anna Young in the two and four spots, respectively, sophomore Maria Torres at the three and freshman Taylor Tomlinson, who will make her postseason debut in the five spot.
Along with Vlckova, Tomlinson has been the Gators’ top golfer this season.
The Gainesville native is the only golfer to compete in each tournament this season, finishing in the top-25 a team-high six times.
Her play has also earned her two SEC Women’s Freshman Golfer of the Week awards.
"It’s possible. (For) any of us it’s possible to win it and the team is capable of winning this kind of tournament," Vlckova said. "It would mean a lot because it’s a high level tournament."
Follow Justen Rosenberg on Twitter @JustenRosenberg
Sophomore Karolina Vlckova high fives coach Emily Glaser during the final round of the 2015 SunTrust Gator Invitational on March 8.
