The No. 21 UF women’s golf team is in Greensboro, North Carolina, this weekend as participants in the Bryan National Collegiate. The tournament will feature four other top-25 teams.
Entering the tournament the Gators are playing their best golf of the season, after three consecutive top-three finishes.
In their last outing – the Briar’s Creek Invitational – the Gators, led by sophomore Kelly Grassel, left John’s Island with their first tournament victory of the year.
Grassel, the transfer from Michigan State, had her best three rounds as a Gator. She shot a collegiate-best 4-under-par and finished in second place.
But despite a boost in confidence, Grassel is not likely to showcase her abilities moving forward.
Grassel dislocated her elbow earlier in the week, after she was involved in a bike accident. She is expected to miss the remainder of the season, as the injury will keep her sidelined for 3-6 weeks.
In place for Grassel is Anna Young, the senior from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
For Young, this will be her third event of the year, and her first time seeing action in the Gators lineup. It is also her first event since the SunTrust Gator Invitational, the Gators’ lone home tournament of the season.
Young played particularly well, as she finished the tournament with a cumulative score of 14-over-par, putting her in a tie for 10th place; ironically, the same standing as Grassel.
At the Florida Challenge, which took place at the end of January, Young was able to crack the top-25, finishing tied for 21st place, with a score of 11-over-par.
Although she has only played a limited role with the team, Young will provide the Gators with experience.
At the 2013 Cougar Classic, she finished with her first collegiate individual title, shooting a personal low 67 in the final round.
But whether or not Young plays at a high level this weekend, the team is headed in the right direction as they brace for postseason play.
“Regardless of what happens, we’ll come back and keep trying to improve and work on those little things that will help us at the SEC Championship in a couple of weeks,” coach Emily Glaser said.
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Kelly Grassel lines up a shot during the 2015 SunTrust Gator Invitational on UF's Mark Bostick Golf Course.
