{"id":240355,"date":"2026-04-21T13:53:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T13:53:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/240355\/"},"modified":"2026-04-21T13:53:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T13:53:12","slug":"florida-gators-freshman-having-big-impact-on-womens-golf-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/240355\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida Gators freshman having big impact on women’s golf team"},"content":{"rendered":"

Florida women\u2019s golf<\/a> is enjoying one of its best seasons in program history in 2026.<\/p>\n

The Gators<\/a> held a lead at the SEC Championship, although they fell in the semifinals to Auburn. Junior Paula Francisco won the conference\u2019s individual championship Sunday.<\/p>\n

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Coach Emily Glaser arguably has the most depth since taking over in 2012. The Gators <\/a>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.<\/p>\n

So, how is a freshman in a starting spot for a team this stacked?<\/p>\n

For those who have watched Katelyn Huber<\/a> \u2013 whether this season or at Mark Bostick Golf Course during her time at Gainesville’s P.K. Yonge<\/a> \u2013 it\u2019s not a surprise.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt’s her first time for everything, so I understand that excitement, and it just gives a little fresh air and another perspective every time,\u201d Francisco said of Huber. \u201cShe’s always super positive, so she never brings herself or the team down.\u201d<\/p>\n

A massive advantage coming in<\/p>\n

Huber literally grew up at Bostick. Pros have raved about her since childhood. She was a Gainesville-area prodigy.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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When Glaser recruited Huber, she didn\u2019t need to sell Huber on what it means to \u201cbe a Gator.\u201d The chance to represent her hometown and the university gave UF a massive leg up.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn the night of my visit, I visualized myself wearing Orange and Blue, and I couldn\u2019t see myself wearing anything else,\u201d Huber said. \u201cEveryone here was so driven to be good and win championships.\u201d<\/p>\n

Huber admitted her life holds a lot of similarities between high school and college. She\u2019s playing the same course, and if anything, it\u2019s easier at UF with more resources and planning.<\/p>\n

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\u201cHaving the facilities and resources, I was able to find aspects of my game that I hadn\u2019t really touched on, and that severely brought my game to a place it hadn\u2019t been before,\u201d Huber said.<\/p>\n

The familiarity with Bostick also gave her a leg up, teammate Megan Propeck said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat helped her transition really quickly versus like a lot of people come in their freshman year,\u201d Propeck said. \u201cThere’s a big learning curve, but I think that’s something she didn’t struggle with much.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\"Florida<\/p>\n

Florida Gators Golf on Friday, November 21, 2025 at the Mark Bostick Golf Course in Gainesville, FL \/ UAA Communications photo by Ethan Caruso<\/p>\n

An impact from the get-go<\/p>\n

Still, the transition was steep. Although Florida is one of the best states for golf, Huber needed to learn to play courses around the country \u2013 with new elements.<\/p>\n

Propeck said Huber, although confident, arrived with open ears. Glaser said she bought into Florida\u2019s process from the beginning, which helped lead to her success.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it’s a buy-in,\u201d Glaser said. \u201cShe has to believe in what we’re doing here, and I think she’s done that.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Still, the coach held her doubts. She acknowledged it\u2019s a \u201ccrap shoot\u201d with freshmen, especially in a mentally taxing sport like golf.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe knew her to be a talented player, but things are new. You have to acclimate to new people, new culture,\u201d Glaser said. \u201cEven 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Huber, though, said she felt more excited than nervous when the season began.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt was an exciting nervous where I can barely hit a golf shot,\u201d Huber said. \u201cLike finally, let\u2019s just go out and have fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

If Huber felt like she struggled to hit a golf ball, she didn\u2019t show it in her first tournament. The freshman finished fourth at the Cougar Classic in Charleston, South Carolina \u2013 the best mark on the team.<\/p>\n

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

\"Florida<\/p>\n

Florida Gators women’s golf on Monday, January 26, 2026 at the San Jose Country Club in Jacksonville, FL \/ UAA Communications photo by Victoria Riccobono<\/p>\n

Constant improvement<\/p>\n

Huber said on recruiting calls she didn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

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Propeck has noticed her progress throughout the season, especially in her short game.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven though she’s maybe not the longest player on our team, she’s able\u00a0to make up shots around the green and go low at times when you know she’s hitting it well and her putter’s hot,\u201d Propeck said.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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\u201cAs soon as I hit a shot, I just wanted to run to the next,\u201d Huber said. \u201cI was really amped up and full of adrenaline, but eventually it just became another golf tournament.\u201d<\/p>\n

Huber humbles herself and relies on her parents to accomplish the mission.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou get a lot of compliments, and it can be hard to not get too big of a head,\u201d Huber said. \u201cBut I just need to bring myself into the moment. I still have a job to finish and future accomplishments.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u00a0nram@usatodayco.com<\/a>. Follow him on X\u00a0@Noah_ram1<\/a>\u00a0and on Instagram\u00a0@Ramreporter<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida Gators freshman Katelyn Huber’s golf success<\/a><\/p>\n