Freshman Jessica Guiser (-3) and Paula Francisco (-1) both had bogey-free low rounds to lead the Gators in the opening round of the National Championships.
CARLSBAD, Calif. – The Florida women’s golf team was led by freshman Jessica Guiser who shot a bogey-free 3-under 69 in the opening round of the NCAA National Championships at Omni La Costa on Friday with the Gators sitting tied for 3rd.
The No. 17 seed this week, UF was part of the first group off this morning (6:30 a.m. PT) at the 43rd championship tournament. The Gators had a team round of 288 (E) and are in a four-way tie for third with Arizona State, Oregon, Texas and will tee off round two tomorrow at 11:50 a.m. PT/2:50 p.m. ET.
Florida was one of two schools along with Oregon in the field of 30 teams to feature an underclassmen lineup in round one today. The Gators are the only team to have all underclassmen team (six total players) here at the national championship this week.
Following 54-holes, the top-15 teams and nine individuals on a non-advancing team earn a spot on Sunday to play in the final round of stroke play on Monday where the NCAA Individual Champion will be crowned after 72-holes. The top-8 teams after 72-holes will advance to match play which features the quarterfinals and semifinals conducted on Tuesday, followed by the finals on Wednesday. All four final days can be watched live on Golf Channel.
The 3-under from Guiser was her lowest score by par since the final round of the season opener at the Cougar Classic in the fall. She recorded birdies on the par5 sixth (513 yards), par3 twelfth (190 yards) and par3 sixteenth (140 yards). It was her fifth round in the 60s this season, and first since a final round of 69 (-1) in her first collegiate victory at the Gators Invitational. Guiser is tied for 5th and two shots back of leader Bailey Davis (-5) from Tennessee.
Paula Francisco had a bogey-free 1-under 71 this morning as she began with 16 consecutive pars before her birdie on the par3 (102 yards) eighth, playing the second-hardest hole (+0.46) today with only 15 total birdies. It was her fourth under par round this postseason out of seven total rounds. She began her second career swing of the postseason with a runner-up 4-under at the Charlottesville Regional, T11 (-1) at the SEC Championship and undefeated (2-0-1) in SEC Championship match play. She is tied for 17th.
Posting a 1-over 73, Archer had a 40-foot birdie from the fringe of the green on the par4 seventh (430 yards). The sophomore logged four birdies and made the turn 2-under.
Addison Klonowski had the final counting round in the lineup with a 75 (+3) as the non-counting score was from Elaine Widjaja at 78 (+6).
Post Round Quotes – Jessica Guiser
On her round today and how she was able to shoot 3-under bogey-free…
“I didn’t make a lot of mistakes out here today. I was able to hit a lot of greens. When I gave myself a good look, I had some putts drop for me as those were my birdies. I didn’t miss a whole lot of greens so was able to take away bogeys on the card and that’s what really helped me.”
On nerves for today as a freshman…
“I was probably a little nervous on the first tee, but I calmed down. Being out here with my team, coach Ashley [Sease] calms me down. Seeing her on all of the par threes helps me. Then having the girls in front and behind me, waving to me, all of those factors help me stay calm out there. Those things are very helpful.”
Florida Leaderboard
Place
Name
Rd. 1
Par
T5
Jessica Guiser
69
-3
T17
Paula Francisco
71
-1
T46
Inès Archer
73
+1
T78
Addison Klonowski
75
+3
T123
Elaine Widjaja
73
+6
Team Leaderboard
Position
Team
Rd. 1
Par
1
Vanderbilt
282
-6
2
Oklahoma State
284
-4
T3
Florida
288
E
T3
Arizona State
288
E
T3
Oregon
288
E
T3
Texas
288
E
7
Kansas State
289
+1
T8
Northwestern
291
+3
T8
Tennessee
291
+3
10
USC
292
+4
T11
Stanford
293
+5
T11
LSU
293
+5
T13
Michigan State
294
+6
T13
Virginia
294
+6
T13
Mississippi Sate
294
+6
T16
Georgia Southern
295
+7
T16
UCLA
295
+7
T16
Ohio Sate
295
+7
T16
Florida State
295
+7
20
Baylor
296
+8
T21
Kansas
297
+9
T21
Arkansas
297
+9
T21
South Carolina
297
+9
24
Ole Miss
301
+13
25
Oklahoma
302
+14
26
Purdue
303
+15
27
Wake Forest
304
+16
28
Iowa State
306
+18
29
CSU Fullerton
308
+20
30
UNLV
310
+22
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