Florida's Paula Francisco looks where to align the ball during the Gators Invitational at Mark Bostick Golf Course in Gainesville on Saturday. [Riana Sage Morales/WRUF]

Women’s Golf Sets Records to Dominate Gator Invitational

The No. 7 Florida women’s golf team set records this weekend as it defended its home course with Paula Francisco winning her first collegiate individual title.

Florida dominated the invitational at Mark Bostick Golf Course, winning for the 10th time in the last 11 seasons. The Gators shot a program record 820 (-20) 54-hole tournament score, beating the previous record by 15 shots.

Florida entered the final day with a 12-shot lead against No. 14 North Carolina (E), which finished third. The Gators won the tournament by going wire-to-wire. The least Florida led by was two strokes.

Francisco broke the 10-year program record with a final score of 200 (-10) after she had tied it during the spring opener.

“I think a good strategy in golf is to stay in the present and play shot-by-shot, hole-by-hole,” Francisco said. “I’m really happy I stuck to my plan and that it went my way.”

Florida has won the event for the 28th time in its 54 years and back-to-back after placing third in 2024. Before that third-place finish, UF had won eight straight Gator Invitationals. It’s the 40th tournament title overall under coach Emily Glaser.

This marks Glaser’s ninth season of multiple victories and third straight of three titles (has four wins).

“This is a really hard-working group and they do a lot of things right,” Glaser said. “It’s nice to see them get a little payoff for their work.”

Florida’s Megan Propeck hits the ball during the Gators Invitational at Mark Bostick Golf Course on Saturday. [Riana Sage Morales/WRUF]

All five golfers in the lineup finished in the top-12, as Siuue Wu secured a career-best T2 finish with a career-best tournament score 205 (-5). Megan Propeck, who finished 6th at 2-under par, shot her weekend low with a 67 (-3) on Sunday. This marks Propeck’s team-best fifth top-10 finish. Rounding out the lineup were Addison Klonowski (-1) and Katelyn Huber (+1), the latter of whom finished T9 in the true freshman’s Gator Invitational debut.

Sophomore Elaine Widjaja led all individuals at the invitational portion, finishing at a career-best 5th place while shooting 3-under par. Other individuals Sophia Stevens and Ines Archer finished 38th and T45th, respectively.

Florida’s Siuue Wu holds the flag during the Gators Invitational at Mark Bostick Golf Course on Saturday. [Riana Sage Morales/WRUF]

The Gators close the spring at the Clemson Invitational on March 27-29 and then gear up for the SEC Championship on April 17-21.

Florida Player Scores

1. Paula Francisco – 68-65-67 = 200 (-10)

T2. Siuue Wu – 65-69-71 = 205 (-5)

5. Elaine Widjaja* – 69-67-71 = 207 (-3)

6. Megan Propeck – 71-70-67 = 208 (-2)

T9. Katelyn Huber – 67-71-73 = 211 (+1)

12. Addison Klonowski – 71-72-69 = 212 (+2)

38. Sophie Stevens* – 76-69-75 = 220 (+10)

T45. Inès Archer* – 73-75-76 = 224 (+14)

*Competing as an individual

Team Leaderboard

1. Florida (-20)

2. Virginia (-2)

3. North Carolina (E)

4. Miami (+28)

5. Clemson (+29)

6. Oklahoma (+30)

T7. USF (+35)

T7. Michigan (+35)

9. FGCU (+47)

10. South Alabama (+51)

11. Campbell (+56)

12. Georgia Southern (+63)

13. FAU (+66)

14. FIU (+77)

Category: Feature Sports News, Gator Sports, Gators Women's Golf