Florida Gators

Emily Glaser is entering her 14th season guiding the University of Florida’s women’s golf program. Announced as UF’s head coach on June 8, 2012, the former LPGA Tour player and collegiate All-American has brought experience as a student-athlete, coach and professional with an attitude for winning that has followed her at each stop along her career path.

Last season (2024-25), a young Gators squad laid the ground work behind five tournament victories, a runner-up finish at the SEC Championship, T3 at NCAA Regionals and advancing to the NCAA National Championships for the first time since 2019. Individually, freshman Jessica Guiser won the Gators Invitational becoming the second UF freshman to earn medalist honors at the 53rd Gators Invitational while Glaser was tabbed to the WGCA National Coach of the Year Watch List.

Closing out the successful season on a strong note and momentum into next season, redshirt-freshman Addison Klonowski finished T24 with a final round of 2-under for the best best finish by a UF freshman golfer at the NCAA National Championships since Tiffany Chuddy (T16) in 2005.

The Gators qualified for the National Championships for the first time since 2019 behind sophomore Paula Francisco's runner-up finish with a 54-hole score of 4-under 209 at the Charlottesville Regional, as she was just one shot behind medalist honors. Francisco led through the first two rounds and opened her second start in regionals with a career-low 4-under 67, her second of the postseason after the same mark in round one of the SEC Championship. She was tied for a tournament-best this week with 12 birdies and one eagle. The finish is the best by a Gator at an NCAA Regional since 2017 when Kelly Grassel won medalist honors in Columbus.

Florida had a final team round of 293 (+9) for a three-round score of 864 (+12) to finish tied for 3rd with host Virginia and earn a trip to the final tournament of the season behind an all underclassmen lineup of three sophomores and two freshmen while overcoming some heart breakers at regionals over the last four years, including missing by a shot in back-to-back seasons (2021 & 2022) and leading at the turn last year.

At the SEC Championship, led by a lineup of all underclassmen (three sophomores & two freshmen). The Gators reached the match play finals for the second time in program history since the format was added in 2018 after defeating the No. 2 seed LSU Tigers 5-0 and the No. 6 seed and No. 2 ranked Arkansas Razorbacks 3-2. UF was edged in the finals 3.5-1.5 to the No. 1 seed and veteran (two seniors & graduate student) South Carolina Gamecocks.

All five in the lineup had key moments in the conference tournament as Addison Klonowski highlighted her first appearance with two match-clinching point victories in the quarterfinals and semifinals while firing a final stroke play round of 3-under 67 to help UF advance to match play. Paula Francisco placed T11 in stroke play and went 2-0-1 in match play with two big putts on the 18th, one to clinch a point in the semifinals and another to keep Florida's SEC title hopes alive in the finals. 

Florida defended home turf and swept the 53rd Gators Invitational, winning the event for the 27th time in program history in the tournament's 53rd occurrence, dating back to 1973. The Gators won the tournament for the ninth time in the last 10 seasons. Six UF golfers finished in top-23 led by Guiser's first collegiate victory at 4-under 206. The last time Florida swept both the team and individual titles at the home tournament was in 2021. The win by Guiser marks the second Florida freshman to win the Gators Invitational in program history joining Riko Higashio (1996), becoming the 11th UF golfer to earn medalist honors at the home tournament and just fourth underclassmen: Annabell Fuller (2021) and Sandral Gal (2006).

In the fall portion of the season, Florida closed out the first leg of the season with back-to-back victories, including defending its team title at The Ally. The Gators shot a final round of 6-under to end 15-under for a six-shot victory over host Mississippi State.
 
In the 2023-24 season, the Gators highlighted the beginning of the season with three consecutive tournament victories to end the fall season. Florida started the stretch off with a six-shot win at the Glass City Invitational, eight-shot victory in the Tar Heel Invitational and capped off by an 11-shot win in the fall finale, The Ally. 

The three wins brought it to 31 tournament wins all-time under head coach Glaser; 32nd total as she was an assistant coach for a season in 2011-12. Florida last won three events in a season in 2015-16 and is the fifth occurrence under Glaser. It marks the most team titles since the 2019-20 season when the Gators last won by double-digits at the Allstate Sugar Bowl by 13.

As a team, the Gators placed top-7 in all nine regular-season tournaments with three wins, seven top-5 and six top-3 finishes. UF also ended with a 2-1 match play record with ranked victories over No. 20 Pepperdine (4-1) and No. 4 UCLA (3-2) at the Therese Hession Regional Challenge.

Maisie Filler headlined the season with three medalist honors and an undefeated record of 3-0 in match play. Her three straight stroke play tournaments victories marked the eighth Gator all-time to win three events in a season and in a row since Sierra Brooks in 2018. Filler was an All-SEC First-Team selection and a four-time conference golfer of the week. Her play also earned her a spot on the ANNIKA Award Watch List. She shot a bogey-free 8-under 64 at the Tar Heel Invitational, setting the second-lowest round in program history, breaking her previous record of 65. Also at the Tar Heel Invitational, Filler had a tournament score of 13-under 203, which tied the second-lowest individual tournament score in program history for the second time in her career.

Outside of collegiate competition, she finished T8 in her second appearance at the Augusta National Women's Amateur (ANWA) marking the highest finish by a Gator all-time. Her play also continued the streak of a Gator earning an invitation since the inception of the event. Filler was also tabbed to Team USA Arnold Palmer Cup becoming the second only UF women's golfer to be chosen.

The 2023-24 group also featured three-freshman (Inès Archer, Paula Francisco and Sophie Stevens), who all earned SEC Freshman Golfer of the Week honors as Archer earned a spot on the All-SEC Freshman Team. Florida's freshman trio totaled 23 (out of 55) appearances in the lineup, including both postseason events (SEC Championship & NCAA Regionals) where the group combined for 15 rounds played with Archer posting a team-best finish of T20 at SECs. They also totaled seven top-10s and 13 top-25s finishes.

Florida defended its home tournament for the eighth straight year under Glaser and for the 26th time overall at the 51st Gators Invitational in the 2022-23 season. The Gators also qualified for the NCAA Regionals for the 11th straight season after making match play in back-to-back seasons at the SEC Championship and fourth time in program history since the format was added in 2018. 

Glaser worked with Annabell Fuller, who earned her third straight All-SEC selection and first Golfweek All-American honor in addition to a third All-American Scholar accolade.

Outside of the season competition, Maisie Filler was invited to the Augusta National Women's Amateur (ANWA) for the first time in her career. It marked the fifth player under Glaser to play in the prestigious event as she has had a selection since the inception of the tournament in 2019. 

In the 2021-22 season, Glaser guided the Gators to a consistent season, which included eight top-10 finishes and two victories. Florida also qualified for the NCAA Regionals for the 10th time under Glaser. The fall also saw two back-to-back runner-up finishes to end the fall, highlighted by Maisie Filler tying second all-time in program history for low tournament score at 203 (-13). She was one stroke away from tying the program record. 

To start the spring, Florida won its first event at the FAU Paradise Invitational setting the program record at 29-under to break the previous record that was set in 2019 at the Gators Invitational under Glaser. UF earned its second victory of the season at the 50th Gators Invitational for the seventh straight year and 25th time overall.    

Glaser took Florida to a new mark by reaching the SEC Match Play Finals for the first time in program history. Prior, the Gators entered the match play portion seeking its first-ever victory. Maisie Filler had another big moment in her career by sinking the match-clinching point victory on 17.
Glaser led the Gators back into competition with a three-tournament schedule highlighted by the East Lake Cup, which was broadcasted exclusively on the Golf Channel. Florida’s season was highlighted by its sixth straight championship at home, capped off by sophomore Annabell Fuller’s first individual championship after carding a career-low 66 in the final round of play. Glaser led the Gators back into the national field after qualifying for the NCAA Regional tournament. Individually, Addie Baggarly and Annabell Fuller were invited to play in the second-annual Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Fuller also was a part of the Gators trio that earned league honors after being named to the Second Team All-SEC. Maisie Filler was tabbed to the All-Freshman Team while Lauren Waidner earned her third consecutive spot on the SEC Community Service Team.

Despite the 2019-20 season being cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Glaser and the Gators still experienced immense success on the course. The Gators concluded the season ranked as the No. 7 team in the nation after finishing within the top five on six occasions, capturing three team titles and one individual title. Individually, junior Addie Baggarly earned a spot on the All-SEC Second Team and was named to the 2020 US Arnold Palmer Cup Team under Glaser.

Florida finished the 2018-19 season ranked No. 8 in the country with three team titles, two individual titles, and seven top-five finishes. Glaser also had her first NCAA medalist as junior Sierra Brooks finished second at the 2019 NCAA Championships. She also 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, Glaser's second season st the helm of the Gators. 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.

In the 2016-17 campaign, Glaser led Florida to six first-place finished which included the SEC Championship. It was the eighth time in program history that the Gators took home the conference championship and the first time under the direction of coach Glaser. 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. In addition to their team success, UF collected eight individual tournament titles as senior Maria Torres led the Gators with three medalist finishes. Glaser was named the Golf Pride WGCA East Regional Coach of the year for the second consecutive season. Glaser was also named the SEC Coach of the Year following the Gators win of the 2017 title. The win also moved her into second all-time in coaching victories with 17 in program history. 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.
 
Glaser led the Gators to seven first-place finishes in the 2015-2016 season, including the four straight tournament wins at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate, SunTrust Gator Women’s Invitational, Briar’s Creek Invitational and the Clemson Invitational. Florida brought home its first regional championship since 2008 after claiming a share of the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional Championship. Glaser was named the 2015-2016 Golf Pride WGCA East Regional Coach of the year after leading the Gators to the NCAA Championship. Junior Maria Torres received Florida’s first Southeastern Conference Golfer of the Year award since 1990, and was named a 2016 Honorable Mention All-American. Torres finished the season with a 72.03 stroke average, the lowest single-season average in school history. Torres recorded 10 top-25 finishes and two tournament wins, while also being named to the 2016 Baton Rouge All-Region Team.
 
Glaser oversaw nine top-10 team finishes during the 2014-15 season, including a tournament win at the Briar’s Creek Invitational, and back-to-back runner-up finishes at 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. In a breakout sophomore season, Karolina Vlckova individually qualified for the 2015 NCAA Championships after being named to the NCAA All-Region Team and was subsequently named a Golfweek Honorable Mention All-American. Vlckova competed in 32 rounds with the lowest average on the team of 74.06, she also led the team collecting seven top-25 finishes and five top-10 finishes.
 
The 2014-15 season brought with it the introduction of freshman standout Taylor Tomlinson and sophomore newcomer Kelly Grassel. As a freshman, Tomlinson was a staple in the Florida lineup – she was the only Gator to compete in every tournament during the 2014-15 season, and was twice tabbed as the SEC Freshman of the Week. Tomlinson was also named to the 2015 SEC All-Freshman Team, after finishing the 2015 SEC Championships tied for 20th. In her first season in Orange and Blue, Grassel competed in 23 rounds, with a 74.1 stroke average – second best on the team. Grassel played a huge part in the Gators’ only team tournament victory of the season, as she recorded her collegiate best finish (2nd), best tournament score (-4) 212 and best round (69) at the Briar’s Creek Invitational, before an injury sidelined her for the remainder of the season.
 
In 2013-14, Glaser oversaw eight top-10 finishes during the regular season for the Orange and Blue. 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 2014 NCAA Championships. At the NCAA Championships, the Gators improved each day, with a significant 23-stroke difference from round one to round four, to tie for 18th. In her final round, lone senior Elcin Ulu climbed the leaderboard to a top-25 finish with a career-low 18-hole score of 66 (-4) and led the Gators to their lowest round, 282 (+2), of the event.
 
Florida brought home the team and individual titles from its first tournament of the season, the Cougar Classic in Charleston, S.C. UF defended its crown at the event by one stroke over runner-up Clemson and junior Anna Young earned the first individual title of her collegiate career by finishing at five-under (211).
 
The 2013-14 season saw two-time All-American Camilla Hedberg tally three top-10 finishes, as she finished her junior year with a 75.4 stroke average in 33 rounds. Maria Torres finished her first year as a Gator with five top-25 finishes, the second-most on the UF squad, and was a member of the SEC All-Freshman Team. Another first-year player, Karolina Vlckova, was the only Gator to compete in every tournament during the 2013-14 season.
 
In her initial season as a head coach in 2012-13, Glaser directed the Gators to three team titles (Cougar Classic, Betsy Rawls Invitational, Florida Challenge), the program’s most victories in a campaign since 2007-08. UF reached its third-consecutive NCAA Championships in 2013, marking Florida’s first time advancing to the tournament for three-straight years since 1996-98.
 
While winning the Cougar Classic and Betsy Rawls Invite, the Gators also carded the top-two team round scores (279, 280) in UF history. At those same tournaments came the second (852 at Cougar Classic) and fifth (863 at Betsy Rawls Invite) lowest team tournament totals in school history. Four of the team’s top-five players recorded at least two top-10 finishes, and seven of the eight UF golfers that recorded at least one competitive round had a top-25 finish.
 
A total of 16 top-10 finishes were recorded among four Florida golfers and the team’s 295.54 team round average in 2012-13 was the second-lowest in school history. A first-team All-SEC pick, Hedberg was named an All-American Honorable Mention by the WGCA for the second-straight year and also won three individual tournament titles in her second season as a Gator. Isabelle Lendl garnered second-team All-SEC recognition and delivered five top-10 efforts, with individual titles at the Dale McNamara Invitational in Broken Arrow, Okla., and at the Tar Heel Invitational in Chapel Hill, N.C. A two-time All-SEC recipient, Mia Piccio was named to the WGCA All-Central Region Team and was the team’s top finisher at NCAAs.
 
Before her move to the Sunshine State, Glaser served as assistant coach for Duke University’s women’s golf team during the 2009-10 season. During her one season with the Blue Devils, the team finished third in the Atlantic Coast Conference and tied for eighth at the NCAA Championships.
 
Glaser, who played four years at Michigan State University and is considered the greatest Spartan golfer of all time, was an NCAA All-American in 2002, a four-time All-Big Ten selection (1999-2002), the 2002 Big Ten Golf Athlete of the Year and the 1999 Big Ten Freshman of the Year. She set the program’s single-season record for stroke average during the 2002 season, while appearing in four NCAA Regionals and three NCAA Championships.
 
Glaser’s storied collegiate career includes being named to the United States’ Curtis Cup team in 2002, and being selected as the Michigan State George Alderton Athlete of the Year in both 2000 and 2002. After her stint as a player, she was hired as an assistant coach at MSU, a position she held during the 2002-03 school year. In 2012, Glaser was inducted into the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame to commemorate her success as a Spartan student-athlete and coach.
 
Glaser competed on the victorious U.S. Curtis Cup squad in 2002 and also represented the Red, White and Blue at that year’s World Amateur Team Championships. She was a semifinalist at the 2001 U.S. Women’s Amateur, played in three U.S. Women’s Open Championships (2002, 2004 and 2005) and is a three-time Ohio State Women’s Amateur Champion (1999, 2001 and 2003).
 
Following her career at Michigan State, Glaser competed on the LPGA Tour in 2005, 2006 and 2008 and played on the Duramed Futures Tour in 2004, 2007 and 2009. She captured the Futures Tour Player of the Year Award and was the leading money winner in 2007. Glaser carded a career-low 66 at the 2008 McDonald’s LPGA Championship and also registered a pair of top-10 finishes on the LPGA Tour.
 
A three-time member of the Academic All-Big Ten Team, the Upper Sandusky, Ohio, native received her bachelor’s degree in marketing from Michigan State in the spring of 2002.
 
Formerly Emily Bastel, she married Christian Glaser in December of 2012.
 
The Emily Glaser File:
Hometown: Upper Sandusky, Ohio
 
Education: Bachelor of Arts – Marketing, Michigan State University, 2002

• Three-time Academic All-Big Ten recipient

Date announced as UF head coach: June 8, 2012
 
Coaching Career:

• Assistant Coach, Michigan State University, 2002-03
• Assistant Coach, Duke University, 2009-10
• Assistant Coach, University of Florida, 2011-12
• Head Coach, University of Florida, 2012-present

Playing Career:

• Michigan State University, 1999-2002
• LPGA Tour – 2005, 2006, 2008
• Duramed Futures Tour – 2004, 2007, 2009 

Playing Honors:

• Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame Inductee (2012)
• Futures Tour Player of the Year Award (2007)
• Won the Jalapeno Duramed Futures Golf Classic (2007)
• Won the Michelob Ultra Duramed Futures Players Championship (2007)
• Played in three U.S. Women’s Open Championships (2002, 2004, 2005)
• Three-time Ohio State Women’s Amateur Champion (1999, 2001, 2003)
• Represented the U.S. at the Curtis Cup (2002)
• Represented the U.S. at the World Amateur Team Championships (2002)
• Michigan State George Alderton Female Athlete of the Year (2000, 2002)
• National Golf Coaches Association All-American (2002)
• Big Ten Golf Athlete of the Year (2002)
• Four-time All-Big Ten selection (1999-2002)
• Quarterfinalist at the U.S. Women’s Amateur (2002)
• Semifinalist at the U.S. Women’s Amateur (2001)
• Medalist at the Big Ten Tournament (2000)
• National Golf Coaches Association Midwest District Freshman of the Year (1999)
• Big Ten Freshman of the Year (1999)