UNF junior Nick Gabrelcik makes preseason Haskins Award watch list for a second season
University of North Florida junior Nick Gabrelcik has been placed on the watch list for the Haskins Award, awarded each year to the nation's top college golfer.
It's the second season in a row on the preseason watch list. Gabrelcik, the two-time reigning ASUN player of the year and a PING third-team All-American, joins 23 other college players on the list, including Fred Biondi of the University of Florida and 2021 Junior Players champion David Ford of North Carolina. Gabrelcik also is one of eight players to be on the watch list two years in a row.
Past Haskins Award winners include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jacksonville native David Duval, Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, Sahith Theegala and Matthew Wolff.
"Nick is a great player and this is a recognition off of two great years," UNF coach Scott Schroeder said. "I know his goal is to not just be on the list, but to be in the mix at the end to win it."
Gabrelcik and UNF will open their fall season Sept. 9-10 at the Rod Myers Invitational, hosted by Duke in Durham, N.C.
INK! to benefit again
The St. Johns County non-profit Investing in Kids (INK!) will be the official charity partner of the PXG Women’s Match Play Championship for the second year.
The tournament will be Nov. 1-6 at the World Golf Hall of Fame Slammer & Squire.
More than $50,000 was raised for INK! through the PXG WMPC pro-am. This year's pro-am will be Oct. 31 at the Slammer & Squire, with 32 teams headed by professionals in the tournament field.
Information on play can be obtained by visiting womensmatchplaychampionship.com or by emailing Donna.lueders@stjohns.k12.fl.us.
Tournament tickets are on sale with proceeds benefiting INK! Daily general admission tickets are $10 and include a complimentary beverage courtesy of Manifest Distilling.
Palencia wins summer series
Palencia defeated the Jacksonville Golf and Country Club 27.5-26.5 at Eagle Harbor to win the championship match of the Jacksonville Area Women's Summer Team Play. The Palencia team members were Barb Jacobi, Linda Carucci, Linda Hoffman, Trish Lucian, Chris McCoy, Faye Peludat and Carol Netzer.
The Summer Team play Pro-Lady was held at the St. Johns Golf and Country Club, with 24 teams competing. The King & Bear won with a net team score of 128, topping San Jose (130), Eagle Harbor (132), Fleming Island (135) and Hidden Hills (135).
Jake Etherton, Deb McBride, Sharon Gallagher and Susan Hennessy were the winning team. Dan Hackney of the Golf Club of Amelia (69) was the low professional.
Building Hope at Palencia
The Northeast Florida Division of PulteGroup, one of the nation’s leading home builders, will hold its Building Hope Charity Golf Tournament on Nov. 1 at Palencia, with the proceeds going to Rethreaded, which supports survivors of human trafficking.
Registration opens at 10 a.m. with the first tee time at noon. Sponsorships also are available, which include a golf foursome, lunch and dinner.
For additional information, email Katie Robinson-Hensley at Katie.Hensley@Pulte.com or call (904) 648-6196.
Henderson rallies
Chris Henderson of Jacksonville had rounds of 69-67 to finish in a tie for fourth in the Florida State Golf Association 40 and under championship, at the Whispering Oak Course in Fort Myers. He finished seven shots behind winner Abbie Valentine on Naples. ... Cameron Goldknopf of Jacksonville shot 72 to finish tied for fourth in the Florida Junior Tour Sugar Mill Open at New Smyrna Beach, seven shots behind winner Reggie Zhu of Winter Garden. The tournament was shortened to 18 holes because of rain. Nancy Cox of Ponte Vedra Beach and Madison Balakiewicz of Jacksonville (77) tied for sixth in the girls division, seven behind winner Madison Momon of Palm Beach.
Contact Garry Smits at gsmits@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @GSmitter
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Ospreys junior golfer Nick Gabrelcik is on Haskins Award watch list
