Women's Golf
Janice Olivencia
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach
- Email:
- janiceo@gators.ufl.edu
- Phone:
- 4731
Former professional player and collegiate All-American Janice Olivencia (Oh-lee-vin-see-ya) is in her 10th season, and fourth as an associate head coach at the University of Florida working alongside head coach Emily Glaser. Olivencia brought experience from her playing career and as a collegiate assistant coach to the Gator program. Florida has advanced to the NCAA Championships in six of her seasons on the staff.
With competition returning to the NCAA after the COVID-19 pandemic cut the previous season short, Olivencia was instrumental in guiding the Gators to their sixth consecutive title at home. Olivencia was on the course with Annabell Fuller in the final round, offering her advice that ultimately resulted in Fuller’s first individual title. The associate head coach was on hand as Fuller and Addie Baggarly competed in the second-annual Augusta National Women’s Amateur, serving as Fuller’s caddie, and guided a Gators trio to league honors. Fuller was named to the Second Team All-SEC, while Maisie Filler was tabbed to the All-Freshman Team. Lauren Waidner capped the trio, earning a spot on the SEC Community Service Team for the third straight year.
Despite the 2019-20 season being cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Olivencia and the Gators still experienced immense success on the course. Through its seven events, Florida finished within the top five on six occasions, capturing three team titles and one individual title. With Olivencia’s guidance, junior Addie Baggarly earned a spot on the All-SEC Second Team and was named to the 2020 US Arnold Palmer Cup Team.
Florida finished the 2018-19 season ranked No. 8 in the country with three team titles, two individual titles, and seven top-five finishes. The Gators also had the first NCAA medalist since 1986 as junior Sierra Brooks finished second at the 2019 NCAA Championships. The Gators had another individual medalist at SEC's with junior Marta Perez finishing in a tie for second. Freshman Clara Manzalini finished T5 at SEC's, which was the highest finish by a freshman since Maria Torres in 2014. Brooks, Perez, and Manzalini were all named to the All-SEC Second Team with Manzalini also earning a spot on the All-Freshman Team. Brooks was also named a WGCA All-American Second-Team honoree.
During the 2017-18 season, the Gators tallied two individual titles, two team titles, and nine top-10 finishes. Sophomore Sierra Brooks was named a WGCA All-American and Golfweek All-American after leading the team in stroke average with a 72.03 in her 26 rounds in the spring, the mark is tied for second in program history. She became the first player in program history to win two of her first three events in Orange and Blue and was the sixth player to earn WGCA honors and eighth to earn Golfweek honors under coach Glaser and Olivencia.
In the 2016-17 campaign, Olivencia helped led Gators to six first-place finishes which included the the eighth SEC Championship in program history. Florida set an SEC Tournament record shooting 22-under-par for the tournament. After winning the NCAA Regional and advanced to the NCAA Championships, the Gators made a run all the way to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships before falling to Arizona State. Florida also collected eight individual tournament titles as senior Maria Torres led the Gators with three medalist finishes. Torres, Kelly Grassel and Taylor Tomlinson all earned Golfweek and WGCA All-American honors. Torres became the first Gator golfer since Sandra Gal in 2007 to be named as a first team honoree.
Olivencia and Glaser led the Gators to four straight tournament wins at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate, SunTrust Gator Women’s Invitational, Briar’s Creek Invitational and the Clemson Invitational. Florida tied for first in the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional Championship to advance to their third NCAA Championship in four year. Maria Torres finished the season with a 72.03 stroke average, the lowest single-season average in school history, and was also named a 2016 Honorable Mention All-American
During the 2014-15 season, under Olivencia and Glaser’s guidance, Florida recorded nine top-10 team finishes including first at the Briar’s Creek Invitational, and runner-up at both the Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate and the SunTrust Gator Women’s Invitational. The squad narrowly missed out on a third straight NCAA Championship appearance, after placing eighth at the NCAA Raleigh Regional. Karolina Vlckova individually qualified for the NCAA Championships, after being named to the NCAA All-Region Team, and was subsequently named a Golfweek Honorable Mention All-American.
With Olivencia’s assistance, Florida recorded 10 top-10 team finishes throughout the 2013-14 season, including first at the Cougar Classic for the second year in a row, third at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate Golf Championship and fourth at The Alamo Invitational. The squad knocked off tournament host Oklahoma State in a playoff at the NCAA Central Regional to earn the program’s 25th berth at the NCAA Championships. Maria Torres was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team and was recognized as the league’s Freshman of the Week after tying for third at the Allstate Sugar Bowl event in New Orleans, La.
In 2012-13, the Gators finished with three team wins (Cougar Classic, Betsy Rawls Invitational, Florida Challenge) and celebrated six individual winners on the campaign. All-American and first-team All-SEC selection Camilla Hedberg became one of only 12 other players in school history to win at least three tournaments in their career and became the eighth person from UF to win three or more tournaments in a season. Isabelle Lendl collected second-team All-SEC kudos, while Mia Piccio was named to the Women’s Golf Coaches Association All-Central Region Team.
Olivencia came to Gainesville after serving as the University of South Florida’s assistant women’s golf coach in 2011-12. The Bulls claimed their first Big East Championship in 2012 and advanced to NCAA Central Regional action. During the regular season, USF collected three team tournament titles and two individual titles. The Bulls also placed an individual in the top-five seven times, while Christina Miller was named the Big East Player of the Year in 2012, becoming the first winner of the award in school history.
Olivencia joined the USF coaching staff after playing on the Ladies European Tour from 2005-08 and LPGA Futures Tour from 2008-10. She was the first Puerto Rican woman to qualify to play on the Ladies European Tour.
As a professional, Olivencia qualified for the 2009 U.S. Women’s Open in Saucon Valley, Pa. It was another first for Puerto Rico, as she became the first woman golfer from P.R. to qualify for a major event. The last Puerto Rican to qualify for a major golfing event was Professional Golf Association (PGA) Hall of Famer Chi Chi Rodriguez.
During her collegiate career at the University of Texas, Olivencia earned All-America honors from the National Golf Coaches Association in 2002 and 2003. The 2002 Big 12 Player of the Year and a three-time All-Big 12 honoree as a sophomore, junior and senior, she twice finished among the top-10 individuals in NCAA Championships play, tying for 10th as a sophomore in 2002 and sharing sixth in 2003. As a senior, Olivencia led the Longhorns to the 2004 Big 12 Tournament title with a runner-up individual finish. As a Longhorn, she recorded a pair of individual wins (Betsy Rawls Invitational and the Lady Northern Invitational), notched 15 top-10 finishes and claimed 20 top-20 finishes.
While playing at Texas, Olivencia posted impressive results as an amateur. She won the prestigious 2002 Women’s Western Amateur Championship, was a 2002 Co-Medalist U.S. Open Qualifier, and both a quarterfinalist and semifinalist at the North & South Amateur Championship.
Olivencia was a member of the Puerto Rico National Golf team from 1998-2004, representing her country twice at the World Amateur Championships. In addition, she was a three-time Caribbean Women’s Amateur Champion and a two-time Puerto Rico Island Champion.
Olivencia received her bachelor’s degree in communications studies from Texas in 2004.
The Janice Olivencia File:
Hometown: Caguas, Puerto Rico
Education: Bachelor of Science – Communications Studies, University of Texas, 2004
Coaching Career:
With competition returning to the NCAA after the COVID-19 pandemic cut the previous season short, Olivencia was instrumental in guiding the Gators to their sixth consecutive title at home. Olivencia was on the course with Annabell Fuller in the final round, offering her advice that ultimately resulted in Fuller’s first individual title. The associate head coach was on hand as Fuller and Addie Baggarly competed in the second-annual Augusta National Women’s Amateur, serving as Fuller’s caddie, and guided a Gators trio to league honors. Fuller was named to the Second Team All-SEC, while Maisie Filler was tabbed to the All-Freshman Team. Lauren Waidner capped the trio, earning a spot on the SEC Community Service Team for the third straight year.
Despite the 2019-20 season being cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Olivencia and the Gators still experienced immense success on the course. Through its seven events, Florida finished within the top five on six occasions, capturing three team titles and one individual title. With Olivencia’s guidance, junior Addie Baggarly earned a spot on the All-SEC Second Team and was named to the 2020 US Arnold Palmer Cup Team.
Florida finished the 2018-19 season ranked No. 8 in the country with three team titles, two individual titles, and seven top-five finishes. The Gators also had the first NCAA medalist since 1986 as junior Sierra Brooks finished second at the 2019 NCAA Championships. The Gators had another individual medalist at SEC's with junior Marta Perez finishing in a tie for second. Freshman Clara Manzalini finished T5 at SEC's, which was the highest finish by a freshman since Maria Torres in 2014. Brooks, Perez, and Manzalini were all named to the All-SEC Second Team with Manzalini also earning a spot on the All-Freshman Team. Brooks was also named a WGCA All-American Second-Team honoree.
During the 2017-18 season, the Gators tallied two individual titles, two team titles, and nine top-10 finishes. Sophomore Sierra Brooks was named a WGCA All-American and Golfweek All-American after leading the team in stroke average with a 72.03 in her 26 rounds in the spring, the mark is tied for second in program history. She became the first player in program history to win two of her first three events in Orange and Blue and was the sixth player to earn WGCA honors and eighth to earn Golfweek honors under coach Glaser and Olivencia.
In the 2016-17 campaign, Olivencia helped led Gators to six first-place finishes which included the the eighth SEC Championship in program history. Florida set an SEC Tournament record shooting 22-under-par for the tournament. After winning the NCAA Regional and advanced to the NCAA Championships, the Gators made a run all the way to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships before falling to Arizona State. Florida also collected eight individual tournament titles as senior Maria Torres led the Gators with three medalist finishes. Torres, Kelly Grassel and Taylor Tomlinson all earned Golfweek and WGCA All-American honors. Torres became the first Gator golfer since Sandra Gal in 2007 to be named as a first team honoree.
Olivencia and Glaser led the Gators to four straight tournament wins at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate, SunTrust Gator Women’s Invitational, Briar’s Creek Invitational and the Clemson Invitational. Florida tied for first in the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional Championship to advance to their third NCAA Championship in four year. Maria Torres finished the season with a 72.03 stroke average, the lowest single-season average in school history, and was also named a 2016 Honorable Mention All-American
During the 2014-15 season, under Olivencia and Glaser’s guidance, Florida recorded nine top-10 team finishes including first at the Briar’s Creek Invitational, and runner-up at both the Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate and the SunTrust Gator Women’s Invitational. The squad narrowly missed out on a third straight NCAA Championship appearance, after placing eighth at the NCAA Raleigh Regional. Karolina Vlckova individually qualified for the NCAA Championships, after being named to the NCAA All-Region Team, and was subsequently named a Golfweek Honorable Mention All-American.
With Olivencia’s assistance, Florida recorded 10 top-10 team finishes throughout the 2013-14 season, including first at the Cougar Classic for the second year in a row, third at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate Golf Championship and fourth at The Alamo Invitational. The squad knocked off tournament host Oklahoma State in a playoff at the NCAA Central Regional to earn the program’s 25th berth at the NCAA Championships. Maria Torres was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team and was recognized as the league’s Freshman of the Week after tying for third at the Allstate Sugar Bowl event in New Orleans, La.
In 2012-13, the Gators finished with three team wins (Cougar Classic, Betsy Rawls Invitational, Florida Challenge) and celebrated six individual winners on the campaign. All-American and first-team All-SEC selection Camilla Hedberg became one of only 12 other players in school history to win at least three tournaments in their career and became the eighth person from UF to win three or more tournaments in a season. Isabelle Lendl collected second-team All-SEC kudos, while Mia Piccio was named to the Women’s Golf Coaches Association All-Central Region Team.
Olivencia came to Gainesville after serving as the University of South Florida’s assistant women’s golf coach in 2011-12. The Bulls claimed their first Big East Championship in 2012 and advanced to NCAA Central Regional action. During the regular season, USF collected three team tournament titles and two individual titles. The Bulls also placed an individual in the top-five seven times, while Christina Miller was named the Big East Player of the Year in 2012, becoming the first winner of the award in school history.
Olivencia joined the USF coaching staff after playing on the Ladies European Tour from 2005-08 and LPGA Futures Tour from 2008-10. She was the first Puerto Rican woman to qualify to play on the Ladies European Tour.
As a professional, Olivencia qualified for the 2009 U.S. Women’s Open in Saucon Valley, Pa. It was another first for Puerto Rico, as she became the first woman golfer from P.R. to qualify for a major event. The last Puerto Rican to qualify for a major golfing event was Professional Golf Association (PGA) Hall of Famer Chi Chi Rodriguez.
During her collegiate career at the University of Texas, Olivencia earned All-America honors from the National Golf Coaches Association in 2002 and 2003. The 2002 Big 12 Player of the Year and a three-time All-Big 12 honoree as a sophomore, junior and senior, she twice finished among the top-10 individuals in NCAA Championships play, tying for 10th as a sophomore in 2002 and sharing sixth in 2003. As a senior, Olivencia led the Longhorns to the 2004 Big 12 Tournament title with a runner-up individual finish. As a Longhorn, she recorded a pair of individual wins (Betsy Rawls Invitational and the Lady Northern Invitational), notched 15 top-10 finishes and claimed 20 top-20 finishes.
While playing at Texas, Olivencia posted impressive results as an amateur. She won the prestigious 2002 Women’s Western Amateur Championship, was a 2002 Co-Medalist U.S. Open Qualifier, and both a quarterfinalist and semifinalist at the North & South Amateur Championship.
Olivencia was a member of the Puerto Rico National Golf team from 1998-2004, representing her country twice at the World Amateur Championships. In addition, she was a three-time Caribbean Women’s Amateur Champion and a two-time Puerto Rico Island Champion.
Olivencia received her bachelor’s degree in communications studies from Texas in 2004.
The Janice Olivencia File:
Hometown: Caguas, Puerto Rico
Education: Bachelor of Science – Communications Studies, University of Texas, 2004
Coaching Career:
- Assistant Coach, University of South Florida, 2011-12
- Assistant Coach, University of Florida, 2012-present
- University of Texas, 2000-04
- Puerto Rico National Golf Team, 1998-2004
- Ladies European Tour, 2005-08
- Duramed Futures Tour, 2008-10
- Two-time National Golf Coaches Association All-American (2002-03)
- Big 12 Player of the Year (2002)
- Three-time All-Big 12 selection (2002-04)
- Three-time Caribbean Women’s Amateur Champion
- Won the Women’s Western Amateur Championship (2002)
- Co-Medalist U.S. Open qualifier (2002)
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Maisie Filler ANWA Press Conference 4-5-24
Friday, April 05
