Sophomore Maisie Filler<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D14533&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=fTcH3Tm2ri6eoq8onWSDgrjKnhj5d2X20nY5nqlS3eR1BzLmqOBjNPsM9C4fiFJ1&s=6tYtMauFDqhmxn4cYygZ4vc47gqg23wnzHlvzBgu0Vg&e= > finished as the top amateur in qualifying to earn a spot at the LPGA event.
BELLEAIR, Fla. – After helping lead Florida women’s golf to a successful fall, Maisie Filler<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D14533&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=fTcH3Tm2ri6eoq8onWSDgrjKnhj5d2X20nY5nqlS3eR1BzLmqOBjNPsM9C4fiFJ1&s=6tYtMauFDqhmxn4cYygZ4vc47gqg23wnzHlvzBgu0Vg&e= > was selected as a sponsor exemption to the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Pelican Championship.
The sophomore finished as the top amateur in qualifying earlier in the week with an even-par 71 to earn the invite as the outing will mark her debut on the LPGA. Filler will be the lone amateur at the tournament and will join Gator Alum Maria Torres<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_sports_womens-2Dgolf_roster_marife-2Dtorres_9830&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=fTcH3Tm2ri6eoq8onWSDgrjKnhj5d2X20nY5nqlS3eR1BzLmqOBjNPsM9C4fiFJ1&s=q4xbXgnldV4ZsBwEIxXNeRENIQsf_ScSzIUaeOBRSNw&e= >.
“I am so excited and grateful for the opportunity to compete in the Pelican Women’s Championship this week,” said Filler. “I am looking forward to testing my mental and physical game against the best in the world, which will help me improve my game going forward. I have loved observing how the best players act and practice on an everyday basis and learn from them. I am enjoying every moment.”
She concluded the fall season finishing runner-up and shooting 12-under to guide the Gators for a second-place finish at The Ally. Filler posted all three rounds in the 60’s – 69, 66 and 68. After setting her career low in round two, she turned in a 68 (-4) on the final day en route to tying second all-time in program history for low individual tournament at 203 (-13). The last Gator to record the mark was Camila Hedberg <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_sports_womens-2Dgolf_roster_camilla-2Dhedberg_2401&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=fTcH3Tm2ri6eoq8onWSDgrjKnhj5d2X20nY5nqlS3eR1BzLmqOBjNPsM9C4fiFJ1&s=OsNvFU2SxC88zSHuLW6GRwMoLpRxYnCGXQ0cEb0K0Zk&e= > in 2012 at the Cougar Classic. Filler was one stroke away from the program record (202) set by current pro Sam Wagner <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_sports_womens-2Dgolf_roster_sam-2Dwagner_9832&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=fTcH3Tm2ri6eoq8onWSDgrjKnhj5d2X20nY5nqlS3eR1BzLmqOBjNPsM9C4fiFJ1&s=Bsde-JjNd07-KyeuFcGRbUbVNljmSyqmAhAQCYIw7Wg&e= > in 2016. Her runner-up finish was the team’s second straight and career best.
Taking place Nov. 11-14 at Pelican Golf Club,108 of the game’s top women professional golfers will converge to compete in the 72-hole championship for a share of the $1.75 million purse.
The field features 10 of the top-15 ranked players in the world according to the Nov. 8 Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, including new World No. 1 Nelly Korda, Jin Young Ko (2), Sei Young Kim (4, defending champion), Lydia Ko (5) Yuka Saso (6), Nasa Hataoka (8), Brooke Henderson (10), Danielle Kang (11), Patty Tavatanakit (12) and Lexi Thompson (13). Nineteen of the 24 players who competed in the recent Solheim Cup in early September are entered in the field, including all 12 members of the victorious U.S. Solheim Cup Team.
Filler will tee off round one on Thursday at 8:28 a.m. ET. Coverage of round one begins at 10 a.m. on the Golf Channel. A full coverage schedule and live scoring can be found here.<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.lpga.com_tournaments_pelican-2Dwomens-2Dchampionship_leaderboard&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=fTcH3Tm2ri6eoq8onWSDgrjKnhj5d2X20nY5nqlS3eR1BzLmqOBjNPsM9C4fiFJ1&s=aQuXIMST3IXXvMijRARccmCnsW8z0_NPRC8efzJRiHg&e= >
