Florida State University Athletics
Sunday, October 19
Denton, TX
TBD
Florida State
at
Jim West Challenge
Women’s Golf Travels To Play At Jim West Challenge
10/18/2025 10:53:00 AM | Women's Golf
SAN MARCOS, Tex. – A superstition is defined in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as a way of behaving that is based upon a belief that certain events or actions will bring good luck to those who follow a given ritual.
As the Florida State women's golf team begins play in the 14th annual Jim West Challenge at the Kissing Tree Golf Club, one thing is certain: there are definite superstitions among the six Seminoles who will tee off in Florida State's third of four fall events. Florida State has traveled to the Jim West with sophomores Sophia Fullbrook, Alexandra Gazzoli, Layla Pedrique, Elin Pudas Remler, and Freya Russell, along with freshman Haruhi Nakatani, as the Seminoles look to earn their best team finish of the fall season.
Florida State, which won the team championship at the Jim West Challenge in 2017, begins play on Sunday looking to become only the fourth two-time team champion in the history of the event. Head coach Amy Bond and her teams have achieved success in the event with a team title, two runner-up finishes, and a fourth-place finish in their first five appearances in the championship.
A pair of Seminoles, Matilda Castren in the fall of 2017 and Frida Kinhult in the fall of 2018, allow Florida State to be one of only two schools with multiple individual champions since the event began in the spring of 2012.
Florida State is joined by New Mexico, North Texas, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, UNLV, Northern Illinois, Houston, Notre Dame, Texas State, Texas Tech, Texas at San Antonio, and TCU in the 14-team field.
Play begins at 9:30 AM EST on both Sunday (Oct. 19) and Monday (Oct. 20) as the teams play two rounds and 36 holes on day 1 and 18 holes on championship Monday.
Many of the superstitions of the Florida State players in this week's lineup center around which type of ball is used, how it is marked to distinguish it from other golf balls, and what ball marker is used on each green.
"I'm not a very superstitious person, and I try not to be," said Fullbrook. "I'd say definitely playing with a Titleist 2 or 4 – a ball with an even number – is something I try to do in each round. I'm not really sure why, but that always seems to be the way to go."
Her specific golf ball choice certainly seems to be working for Fullbrook this fall. She enters the Jim West with a career-low 71.17 stroke average in six rounds during her first two events of the season. She carded three below par rounds in the Schooner Fall Classic (69-70-69) to earn her second consecutive and fifth career top-15 individual finish.
Her even numbered-ball preference is echoed by Nakatani who enters her third career event fresh from her first career top-25 finish at the Schooner.
"I used to have a lot of superstitions," said Nakatani. "Especially with the ball golf balls I have to use. I have to use a Titleist 2 or 4; it has to be an even number. I also have to use a black Sharpie to mark my golf balls."
From her first career tournament as a Seminole to her second, Nakatani cut 18 strokes off of her score and improved her individual standing by 11 positions. She finished with an even par score of 210 and scores of 70-71-69 in finishing in a tie for 21st place at the Schooner.
Pudas Remler's superstition revolves around her special ball marker which must remain in her pocket at all times.
"I'm trying to work on it, but I never play well if I don't (have it in my pocket)." said Pudas-Remler.
For Pedrique, it's also all about the ball marker.
"My pre-round superstition is that I always make sure that I have my ring on and that I use my ring as a ball marker," said Pedrique.
Gazzoli, who will play in her 11th consecutive match over two years for the Seminoles, is the only player in this week's lineup whose superstition doesn't include a piece of golf equipment.
Instead, her superstition is more of an audio necessity to prepare her for each of her rounds.
"I always listen to Appetite for Destruction by Guns and Roses," said Gazzoli. "I can't play without listening to that."
Golf is certainly an incredibly superstitious sport, with Florida State's players adhering to the rule rather than being the exceptions.
Maybe the most superstitious in the history of golf is one of the greatest of them all – Tiger Woods. He nearly always wears a red shirt for the final round of a tournament, a superstition that comes from his mother, who believed the color represents power.
Another golfer who changes her shirt for the final round of a tournament is 12-time LPGA winner Paula Creamer. Her final-round dress code is her signature color pink.
The Seminoles will mirror Creamer as they wear pink shirts during Monday's final round of the Jim West to support breast cancer awareness month.
Results for all three rounds can be found on Scoreboard by Clippd.
Television coverage is also provided on Sunday (from 2:30-6:00 p.m. ET) and Monday (9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET) on ESPN+.
As the Florida State women's golf team begins play in the 14th annual Jim West Challenge at the Kissing Tree Golf Club, one thing is certain: there are definite superstitions among the six Seminoles who will tee off in Florida State's third of four fall events. Florida State has traveled to the Jim West with sophomores Sophia Fullbrook, Alexandra Gazzoli, Layla Pedrique, Elin Pudas Remler, and Freya Russell, along with freshman Haruhi Nakatani, as the Seminoles look to earn their best team finish of the fall season.
Florida State, which won the team championship at the Jim West Challenge in 2017, begins play on Sunday looking to become only the fourth two-time team champion in the history of the event. Head coach Amy Bond and her teams have achieved success in the event with a team title, two runner-up finishes, and a fourth-place finish in their first five appearances in the championship.
A pair of Seminoles, Matilda Castren in the fall of 2017 and Frida Kinhult in the fall of 2018, allow Florida State to be one of only two schools with multiple individual champions since the event began in the spring of 2012.
Florida State is joined by New Mexico, North Texas, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, UNLV, Northern Illinois, Houston, Notre Dame, Texas State, Texas Tech, Texas at San Antonio, and TCU in the 14-team field.
Play begins at 9:30 AM EST on both Sunday (Oct. 19) and Monday (Oct. 20) as the teams play two rounds and 36 holes on day 1 and 18 holes on championship Monday.
Many of the superstitions of the Florida State players in this week's lineup center around which type of ball is used, how it is marked to distinguish it from other golf balls, and what ball marker is used on each green.
"I'm not a very superstitious person, and I try not to be," said Fullbrook. "I'd say definitely playing with a Titleist 2 or 4 – a ball with an even number – is something I try to do in each round. I'm not really sure why, but that always seems to be the way to go."
Her specific golf ball choice certainly seems to be working for Fullbrook this fall. She enters the Jim West with a career-low 71.17 stroke average in six rounds during her first two events of the season. She carded three below par rounds in the Schooner Fall Classic (69-70-69) to earn her second consecutive and fifth career top-15 individual finish.
Her even numbered-ball preference is echoed by Nakatani who enters her third career event fresh from her first career top-25 finish at the Schooner.
"I used to have a lot of superstitions," said Nakatani. "Especially with the ball golf balls I have to use. I have to use a Titleist 2 or 4; it has to be an even number. I also have to use a black Sharpie to mark my golf balls."
From her first career tournament as a Seminole to her second, Nakatani cut 18 strokes off of her score and improved her individual standing by 11 positions. She finished with an even par score of 210 and scores of 70-71-69 in finishing in a tie for 21st place at the Schooner.
Pudas Remler's superstition revolves around her special ball marker which must remain in her pocket at all times.
"I'm trying to work on it, but I never play well if I don't (have it in my pocket)." said Pudas-Remler.
For Pedrique, it's also all about the ball marker.
"My pre-round superstition is that I always make sure that I have my ring on and that I use my ring as a ball marker," said Pedrique.
Gazzoli, who will play in her 11th consecutive match over two years for the Seminoles, is the only player in this week's lineup whose superstition doesn't include a piece of golf equipment.
Instead, her superstition is more of an audio necessity to prepare her for each of her rounds.
"I always listen to Appetite for Destruction by Guns and Roses," said Gazzoli. "I can't play without listening to that."
Golf is certainly an incredibly superstitious sport, with Florida State's players adhering to the rule rather than being the exceptions.
Maybe the most superstitious in the history of golf is one of the greatest of them all – Tiger Woods. He nearly always wears a red shirt for the final round of a tournament, a superstition that comes from his mother, who believed the color represents power.
Another golfer who changes her shirt for the final round of a tournament is 12-time LPGA winner Paula Creamer. Her final-round dress code is her signature color pink.
The Seminoles will mirror Creamer as they wear pink shirts during Monday's final round of the Jim West to support breast cancer awareness month.
Results for all three rounds can be found on Scoreboard by Clippd.
Television coverage is also provided on Sunday (from 2:30-6:00 p.m. ET) and Monday (9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET) on ESPN+.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
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