The Gophers opened their spring season with a trip down to Florida for the Florida State Match Up. 

The team came back home with a better mark than only one team at the event.

In the Gophers’ first action since October, they finished 11th out of 12 teams in the tournament that was held at Don Veller Seminole Golf Course in Tallahassee, Florida on Friday and Saturday. 

The teams played 36 holes on Friday and finished with 18 on Saturday. South Carolina finished first with a total score of 848. Minnesota finished with a 902. 

The Gophers’ top scorer was Sabrine Garrison, who ended three over par for the tournament, as she tied for 24th place. Minnesota started three freshmen in their lineup — Kate Lillie, Joanne Free and Grace Kellar. 

“I am encouraged by some of the things I saw,” head coach Michele Redman said. “Obviously, there [are] things we will need to work on.”

The Gophers shot a 309 in the final round on Saturday. Minnesota had three players finish the round with a 77. Garrison, senior Muyu Wu and Lillie all shot 77 for the three best scores on the day for the Gophers. Wu finished the tournament tied for 43rd. Kellar shot 78 in the final round and finished tied for 46th.

Minnesota’s best score of the weekend came from Garrison in the second round. Garrison shot a 69 on the final 18 holes of the day on Friday. The senior finished tied for 24th. Garrison, a senior, will have to provide leadership to an otherwise young lineup.

“We have three freshmen in the lineup,” Redman said. “It is just a matter of them getting used to the courses and college golf right now.”