Florida State University Athletics
Gazzoli Makes Seminole Debut At Jackson T. Stephens Cup
10/20/2024 1:12:00 PM | Women's Golf
OKLAHOMA CITY – Seminole freshman Alexandra Gazzoli is really enjoying being a student-athlete at Florida State University. She has quickly grown comfortable with the size of FSU's campus, the change of scenery, the much busier day-to-day routines, and the demands of competing at the highest level of collegiate golf.
The biggest transition she had to make was attending in-person classes upon her arrival as a student on campus.
After completing a class in world geography online during the summer of 2024, Gazzoli's first class at Florida State on August 26 was the first time she had attended an actual class since she was in the sixth grade. The first class she attended was biology for non-majors; she intends to major in criminology during her academic career as a Seminole.
While she made her name as one of the top prep golfers in the state of Florida as a member of the golf team at Matanzas High School, Gazzoli graduated from the Florida Virtual School in 2024.
As she studied virtually, she became the first golfer from Matanzas to win a state championship in 2022. Along the way, she was named as the Female Athlete of the Year at Matanzas in 2024, the area Golfer of the Year by the Daytona Beach News Journal in 2022 and the 2022 All-News4Jax Golfer of the Year.
Less than two months into her career at Florida State, Gazzoli will make her collegiate debut at the Jackson T. Stephens Cup at the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club on Monday as a member of the lineup for the No. 14 Seminoles.
The Stephens Cup is one of the more unique events of the college golf season as six of the nation's top women's teams (Florida State, Arkansas, South Carolina, Oklahoma State, Oregon, and Wake Forest) will play alongside (albeit separately) six of the top men's teams in college golf (Florida State, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, San Diego State, and SMU). The field includes individual players from four HBCUs (including Sascha Robinson of Florida A&M) and three of the United States Service Academies (The United States Military Academy, the Naval Academy, and the Air Force Academy).
The event for both the men's and women's teams will consist of 36 holes of stroke play on Monday (October 21) and 18 holes of stroke play on Tuesday (October 22). Following stroke play on Tuesday, the top four teams will enter into match play to decide the champions on both sides.
Florida State's lineup consists of the World's No. 1 ranked amateur player in Lottie Woad, along with senior Kaylah Williams, and a trio of freshmen (Gazzoli, Christina Surcey, and Sophia Fullbrook.
She's approaching her first collegiate tournament just as she did her first class at Florida State – with sheer excitement.
"The one word I say best expresses my emotions as I approach my first event as a Seminole would be excited," said the life-long Florida State fan.
Her excitement in playing in her first collegiate event is matched by the opportunity to represent the Garnet and Gold in the first of many future tournaments.
Gazzoli comes from a long line of Seminoles – her father, Robert, an uncle, and her two brothers, Christian and Blaine, all graduated from Florida State.
"Growing up a fan of the Seminoles, it was always my dream to play at Florida State," said Gazzoli. "I've been coming to FSU football games since I was eight-years old."
The former softball standout has spent her practice time improving every aspect of her game on the lavish Seminole Legacy Golf Course and its incredible practice facilities.
Gazzoli says her biggest improvements have come in her short game – specifically in the area of her chipping since under the watchful eyes of the Seminole coaching staff.
"After the first few practices I felt really comfortable with school and my game," said Gazzoli. "I felt confident that I was going to improve a lot in my time here."
Improvement is exactly what Gazzoli has done since arriving on campus. She earned her way into Florida State's lineup through qualifying competition against her teammates leading up to the Jackson T. Stephens Cup. Gazzoli will be in Florida State's lineup for next week's Landfall Tradition as the Seminoles travel from the Stephen's Cup in Oklahoma City, their final event of the fall season, at the Landfall Tradition in Wilmington, N.C. (Oct. 25-27).
Seminole Head Coach Amy Bond, who has led the Seminoles to top three finishes at the Folds of Honor (second) and the Schooner Fall Classic (third) already this fall, is looking forward to watching Gazzoli for the first time as a Seminole.
"It's exciting that Alexandra gets the opportunity to be in the lineup and gets her first taste of college golf this week," said Bond. "She will gain some great experiences; we can't wait to see what she does in these two tournaments."
While Gazzoli has settled into life as a student and an athlete at her dream school, she will always long for the comforts of home.
"I miss my mom's Shoyu Chicken and watching the Seminoles play on Saturday and the Rams play on Sunday with my dad."
With the opportunities ahead of Alexandra as a Seminole golfer, the Gazzoli family better get used to an empty place at the dinner table and making more trips to campus to cheer on the Seminoles.
Results can be found here.
The biggest transition she had to make was attending in-person classes upon her arrival as a student on campus.
After completing a class in world geography online during the summer of 2024, Gazzoli's first class at Florida State on August 26 was the first time she had attended an actual class since she was in the sixth grade. The first class she attended was biology for non-majors; she intends to major in criminology during her academic career as a Seminole.
While she made her name as one of the top prep golfers in the state of Florida as a member of the golf team at Matanzas High School, Gazzoli graduated from the Florida Virtual School in 2024.
As she studied virtually, she became the first golfer from Matanzas to win a state championship in 2022. Along the way, she was named as the Female Athlete of the Year at Matanzas in 2024, the area Golfer of the Year by the Daytona Beach News Journal in 2022 and the 2022 All-News4Jax Golfer of the Year.
Less than two months into her career at Florida State, Gazzoli will make her collegiate debut at the Jackson T. Stephens Cup at the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club on Monday as a member of the lineup for the No. 14 Seminoles.
The Stephens Cup is one of the more unique events of the college golf season as six of the nation's top women's teams (Florida State, Arkansas, South Carolina, Oklahoma State, Oregon, and Wake Forest) will play alongside (albeit separately) six of the top men's teams in college golf (Florida State, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, San Diego State, and SMU). The field includes individual players from four HBCUs (including Sascha Robinson of Florida A&M) and three of the United States Service Academies (The United States Military Academy, the Naval Academy, and the Air Force Academy).
The event for both the men's and women's teams will consist of 36 holes of stroke play on Monday (October 21) and 18 holes of stroke play on Tuesday (October 22). Following stroke play on Tuesday, the top four teams will enter into match play to decide the champions on both sides.
Florida State's lineup consists of the World's No. 1 ranked amateur player in Lottie Woad, along with senior Kaylah Williams, and a trio of freshmen (Gazzoli, Christina Surcey, and Sophia Fullbrook.
She's approaching her first collegiate tournament just as she did her first class at Florida State – with sheer excitement.
"The one word I say best expresses my emotions as I approach my first event as a Seminole would be excited," said the life-long Florida State fan.
Her excitement in playing in her first collegiate event is matched by the opportunity to represent the Garnet and Gold in the first of many future tournaments.
Gazzoli comes from a long line of Seminoles – her father, Robert, an uncle, and her two brothers, Christian and Blaine, all graduated from Florida State.
"Growing up a fan of the Seminoles, it was always my dream to play at Florida State," said Gazzoli. "I've been coming to FSU football games since I was eight-years old."
The former softball standout has spent her practice time improving every aspect of her game on the lavish Seminole Legacy Golf Course and its incredible practice facilities.
Gazzoli says her biggest improvements have come in her short game – specifically in the area of her chipping since under the watchful eyes of the Seminole coaching staff.
"After the first few practices I felt really comfortable with school and my game," said Gazzoli. "I felt confident that I was going to improve a lot in my time here."
Improvement is exactly what Gazzoli has done since arriving on campus. She earned her way into Florida State's lineup through qualifying competition against her teammates leading up to the Jackson T. Stephens Cup. Gazzoli will be in Florida State's lineup for next week's Landfall Tradition as the Seminoles travel from the Stephen's Cup in Oklahoma City, their final event of the fall season, at the Landfall Tradition in Wilmington, N.C. (Oct. 25-27).
Seminole Head Coach Amy Bond, who has led the Seminoles to top three finishes at the Folds of Honor (second) and the Schooner Fall Classic (third) already this fall, is looking forward to watching Gazzoli for the first time as a Seminole.
"It's exciting that Alexandra gets the opportunity to be in the lineup and gets her first taste of college golf this week," said Bond. "She will gain some great experiences; we can't wait to see what she does in these two tournaments."
While Gazzoli has settled into life as a student and an athlete at her dream school, she will always long for the comforts of home.
"I miss my mom's Shoyu Chicken and watching the Seminoles play on Saturday and the Rams play on Sunday with my dad."
With the opportunities ahead of Alexandra as a Seminole golfer, the Gazzoli family better get used to an empty place at the dinner table and making more trips to campus to cheer on the Seminoles.
Results can be found here.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
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