Paula Francisco walks the fairway during the 2026 SEC Championship.
Francisco named to WGCA Player of the Year Watch List
Thursday, May 7, 2026 | Women's Golf
Paula Francisco adds to her resume this season of SEC Individual Champion, All-SEC First Team, Arnold Palmer Cup and ANNIKA Award Postseason Watch List.
FRISCO, Texas - Florida women's golfer Paula Francisco collected another accolade, being named to the 2025-26 Division I PINGA WGCA Player of the Year Watch List on Thursday. She is one of 12 golfers to earn a spot on the prestigious list.
The award will be announced after the upcoming Division I Women's National Championship and is awarded annually to the best player in Division I women's golf. Each player must complete a minimum of 15 rounds during the competitive year, including NCAA Regional Championships.
Francisco continues to add another milestone to her breakout season. Yesterday, she clinched a spot in the 81st U.S. Women's Open shooting 2-under 140 in the qualifier at the Wilderness Country Club (Naples, Fla.). The junior won the 2026 SEC Individual Championship, for her second win in last three starts as she finished runner-up and one shot back in the non-win outing. The Madrid, Spain native was also named to the ANNIKA Award Postseason Watch List, All-SEC First Team and selected to this year's Arnold Palmer Cup.
She became the eighth Gator to win the SEC Championship and first since Maria Torres in 2016. This is the 10th time a UF golfer has been crowned the conference champion, which leads the SEC. The win was the second of Francisco's collegiate career and season. She had 54-hole tournament score of 202 (-8), which is the third lowest all-time by score in SEC Championship history. It is also the lowest by par from a Gator since Maria Torres won the conference title in 2016 and finished 9-under.
Ranked the No. 8 player in the nation, she tied the 54-hole tournament record (202) in the spring opener. Then broke the 10-year program record with a final score of 200 (-10) to capture her first collegiate win at the Gators Invitational. In round two, Francisco tied for the second-lowest round in program history with a 65 (-5). She has a team-low stroke average of 70.3 and 16 of her 29 rounds have been under par with nine straight currently.
The No. 3 ranked Gators were recently selected as the No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tallahassee Regional. The three-day, 54-hole event begins on Monday, May 11 at 8 a.m. at Seminole Legacy Golf Club. After three rounds, the top-5 teams and low individual (not on an advancing team) qualify for the NCAA Championships at Omni La Costa in Carlsbad, Calif. from May 22-27.
Division I PING WGCA Player of the Year Watch List
• Paula Francisco, JR, University of Florida
• Farah O'Keefe, JR, University of Texas
• Maria Jose Marin, JR, University of Arkansas
• Kiara Romero, JR, University of Oregon
• Paula Martin Sampedro, JR, Stanford University
• Avery Weed, JR, Mississippi State University
• Andrea Revuelta, SO, Stanford University
• Rianne Malixi, FR, Duke University
• Megha Ganne, SR, Stanford University
• Catherine Park, SR, University of Southern California
• Vanessa Borovilos, SO, Texas A&M University
• Jasmine Koo, SO, University of Southern California
Florida Women's Golf 2025-26 Awards Tracker
The award will be announced after the upcoming Division I Women's National Championship and is awarded annually to the best player in Division I women's golf. Each player must complete a minimum of 15 rounds during the competitive year, including NCAA Regional Championships.
Francisco continues to add another milestone to her breakout season. Yesterday, she clinched a spot in the 81st U.S. Women's Open shooting 2-under 140 in the qualifier at the Wilderness Country Club (Naples, Fla.). The junior won the 2026 SEC Individual Championship, for her second win in last three starts as she finished runner-up and one shot back in the non-win outing. The Madrid, Spain native was also named to the ANNIKA Award Postseason Watch List, All-SEC First Team and selected to this year's Arnold Palmer Cup.
She became the eighth Gator to win the SEC Championship and first since Maria Torres in 2016. This is the 10th time a UF golfer has been crowned the conference champion, which leads the SEC. The win was the second of Francisco's collegiate career and season. She had 54-hole tournament score of 202 (-8), which is the third lowest all-time by score in SEC Championship history. It is also the lowest by par from a Gator since Maria Torres won the conference title in 2016 and finished 9-under.
Ranked the No. 8 player in the nation, she tied the 54-hole tournament record (202) in the spring opener. Then broke the 10-year program record with a final score of 200 (-10) to capture her first collegiate win at the Gators Invitational. In round two, Francisco tied for the second-lowest round in program history with a 65 (-5). She has a team-low stroke average of 70.3 and 16 of her 29 rounds have been under par with nine straight currently.
The No. 3 ranked Gators were recently selected as the No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tallahassee Regional. The three-day, 54-hole event begins on Monday, May 11 at 8 a.m. at Seminole Legacy Golf Club. After three rounds, the top-5 teams and low individual (not on an advancing team) qualify for the NCAA Championships at Omni La Costa in Carlsbad, Calif. from May 22-27.
Division I PING WGCA Player of the Year Watch List
• Paula Francisco, JR, University of Florida
• Farah O'Keefe, JR, University of Texas
• Maria Jose Marin, JR, University of Arkansas
• Kiara Romero, JR, University of Oregon
• Paula Martin Sampedro, JR, Stanford University
• Avery Weed, JR, Mississippi State University
• Andrea Revuelta, SO, Stanford University
• Rianne Malixi, FR, Duke University
• Megha Ganne, SR, Stanford University
• Catherine Park, SR, University of Southern California
• Vanessa Borovilos, SO, Texas A&M University
• Jasmine Koo, SO, University of Southern California
Florida Women's Golf 2025-26 Awards Tracker
| Name | Award/Honor |
|---|---|
| Paula Francisco | SEC Individual Champion All-SEC First Team Qualifier for 81st U.S. Women's Open ANNIKA Award Postseason Watch List WGCA Player of the Year Watch List Arnold Palmer Cup Selection Gators Invitational Champion SEC Golfer of the Week |
| Megan Propeck | SEC Newcomer of the Year All-SEC First Team Arnold Palmer Cup Selection Augusta National Women's Amateur Participant OU Intercollegiate Champion |
| Emily Glaser | SEC Coach of the Year WGAC Coach of the Year Watch List |
| Siuue Wu | All-SEC Second Team Qualifier for 81st U.S. Women's Open |
| Katelyn Huber | All-SEC Freshman Team SEC Freshman of the Week |
| Ashley Sease | WGCA Assistant Coach of the Year Watch List |
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
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