Florida Gators freshman having big impact on women's golf team

Florida women’s golf is enjoying one of its best seasons in program history in 2026.

>The Gators held a lead at the SEC Championship, although they fell in the semifinals to Auburn. Junior Paula Francisco won the conference’s individual championship Sunday.

>Coach Emily Glaser arguably has the most depth since taking over in 2012. The Gators are a legit national championship contender and will learn which regional they'll play in on April 29 at 4 p.m. (the selection show is on Golf Channel). The NCAA Regionals are set for May 11-13 and the NCAA Championships will be played at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif., from May 22-27.

>So, how is a freshman in a starting spot for a team this stacked?

>For those who have watched Katelyn Huber – whether this season or at Mark Bostick Golf Course during her time at Gainesville's P.K. Yonge – it’s not a surprise.

>“It's her first time for everything, so I understand that excitement, and it just gives a little fresh air and another perspective every time,” Francisco said of Huber. “She's always super positive, so she never brings herself or the team down.”

A massive advantage coming inHuber literally grew up at Bostick. Pros have raved about her since childhood. She was a Gainesville-area prodigy.

>The former P.K. Yonge golfer finished in the top three twice at the FHSAA Class 1A State Championship and was a three-time Gainesville Sun Girls Golfer of the Year.

>When Glaser recruited Huber, she didn’t need to sell Huber on what it means to “be a Gator.” The chance to represent her hometown and the university gave UF a massive leg up.

>“On the night of my visit, I visualized myself wearing Orange and Blue, and I couldn’t see myself wearing anything else,” Huber said. “Everyone here was so driven to be good and win championships.”

>Huber admitted her life holds a lot of similarities between high school and college. She’s playing the same course, and if anything, it’s easier at UF with more resources and planning.

>“Having the facilities and resources, I was able to find aspects of my game that I hadn’t really touched on, and that severely brought my game to a place it hadn’t been before,” Huber said.

>The familiarity with Bostick also gave her a leg up, teammate Megan Propeck said.

>“That helped her transition really quickly versus like a lot of people come in their freshman year,” Propeck said. “There's a big learning curve, but I think that's something she didn't struggle with much.”

>

An impact from the get-goStill, the transition was steep. Although Florida is one of the best states for golf, Huber needed to learn to play courses around the country – with new elements.

>Propeck said Huber, although confident, arrived with open ears. Glaser said she bought into Florida’s process from the beginning, which helped lead to her success.

>“I think it's a buy-in,” Glaser said. “She has to believe in what we're doing here, and I think she's done that.”

>Still, the coach held her doubts. She acknowledged it’s a “crap shoot” with freshmen, especially in a mentally taxing sport like golf.

>“We knew her to be a talented player, but things are new. You have to acclimate to new people, new culture,” Glaser said. “Even though she grew up in Gainesville, there's lots of new things for her too on campus, so you just never know how quickly or how they're going to kind of get up and running.”

>Huber, though, said she felt more excited than nervous when the season began.

>“It was an exciting nervous where I can barely hit a golf shot,” Huber said. “Like finally, let’s just go out and have fun.”

>If Huber felt like she struggled to hit a golf ball, she didn’t show it in her first tournament. The freshman finished fourth at the Cougar Classic in Charleston, South Carolina – the best mark on the team.

>A month later, she was named SEC Freshman of the Week after finishing 4-under at The Ally in West Point, Mississippi.

>

Constant improvementHuber said on recruiting calls she didn’t expect to play as a freshman and wanted to earn her spot. Since that start in the Palmetto State, Huber has been in the starting lineup, which she noted was her biggest surprise of the season.

>Propeck has noticed her progress throughout the season, especially in her short game.

>“Even though she's maybe not the longest player on our team, she's able to make up shots around the green and go low at times when you know she's hitting it well and her putter's hot,” Propeck said.

>It all culminated in the Gators Invitational at Bostick, where Huber finished in fourth. The quiet Huber, with friends and family in attendance, admitted she felt a feeling of high excitement unexperienced before.

>“As soon as I hit a shot, I just wanted to run to the next,” Huber said. “I was really amped up and full of adrenaline, but eventually it just became another golf tournament.”

>Huber humbles herself and relies on her parents to accomplish the mission.

>“You get a lot of compliments, and it can be hard to not get too big of a head,” Huber said. “But I just need to bring myself into the moment. I still have a job to finish and future accomplishments.”

>Noah Ram covers Florida Gators athletics and Gainesville-area high school sports for The Gainesville Sun, GatorSports.com and the USA TODAY Network. Contact him at nram@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X @Noah_ram1 and on Instagram @Ramreporter.

>This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida Gators freshman Katelyn Huber's golf success