Florida State University Athletics
Florida State Match Up: FSU All-American Westrup Returns As Missouri's Head Coach
3/17/2025 1:18:00 PM | Women's Golf
TALLAHASSEE – On Wednesday, Caroline Westrup will take a tour of the Florida State campus. She will drive by Doak Campbell Stadium and the Donald L. Tucker Center. She'll walk around Tully Gymnasium where most of her sport management classes were held, and she'll take pictures with her team at the Bobby Bowden statue in front of the Moore Athletic Center. From there she'll cross Champions Way and drive up Tennessee Street where she'll turn right onto Copeland Street and stop at the Westcott Fountain.
After that, she'll take her team to the Seminole Legacy Golf Club where she will take a look at one of the top collegiate courses in the nation for the first time.
It's then that Westrup will know she's home.
The first four-time All-American in program history returns to campus for the first time since she was inducted into the Florida State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019. She returns as the head coach of the University of Missouri women's golf team that will participate in the Florida State Match Up at the Seminole Legacy from Friday through Sunday.
"It's an absolute honor to be back to Florida State as a head coach after being a student-athlete here for four years," said Westrup. "I am extremely happy to be back as a head coach with the opportunity to show my players where I went to school."
Westrup is in her third season as the Tigers' head coach. Her golfing background, which saw her win five individual championships while she was a Seminole, has allowed her to jumpstart the program in Columbia. After fielding one of the nation's youngest teams in her first season with numerous program milestones, Westrup guided Missouri during the 2023-24 season to a program record with a 293.1 stroke average – nearly a six-stroke improvement from the season before Westrup's arrival.
"I love being a head coach and being able to share my experiences that I had as a student-athlete with my players," said Westrup. "I know what they are going through on a day-to-day basis. My main focus is to create character in them. I want them to come out stronger and prepared for their next step in their career. The players are the reason why I come in excited every single day to work."
Westrup entered the Florida State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019 ranked sixth in school history with a career stroke average of 73.23. While she won five individual tournament victories, she helped the Seminoles win five tournament championships.
Westrup earned All-America First-Team honors in 2006 and 2007 by the National Golf Coaches' Association and GolfWeek Magazine, All-America Second-Team honors in 2008 by the NGCA and GolfWeek and All-American Honorable Mention by GolfWeek in 2009.
She was Florida State's top individual finisher in 27 events during her career, ranked second in school history with 18 top-10 finishes, shot her career best single-round score of 66 five times and counted .986 percent of her rounds (108.5 of 110) toward the team score during her career, and is tied for fifth in school history with 42 rounds scored at par or better.
"The milestones that have shaped my life include graduating in four years from Florida State, playing on tour for nine years, and making it to the LPGA tour, which was a dream come true for me," said Westrup. "My life has been amazing from being inducted into Florida State Hall of Fame, to being inducted into WGCA Player Hall of Fame, to getting married and having two amazing kids."
Westrup and her team arrive in Tallahassee in the midst of one of the best seasons in school history.
The Tigers have earned three top-five finishes including runner-up placings at the Johnie Imes Invitational (the Tigers' home event) and the Marilynn Smith Sunflower Showdown. The Tigers are led by Ffion Tynan who has earned a 73.26 stroke average. Fleur van Beek who finished in second place at Missouri's home tournament.
Westrup competed in the NCAA Championship finals three times and won the individual championship at the 2006 World Amateur Championships. She is also one of only six players in school history to earn All-American Scholar Athlete honors as named by the National Golf Coaches' Association of America three times.
"I'm so excited to see the new golf course which has obviously changed since I've been there," said Westrup. "I was able to see the back nine in 2020, but the front nine had not been made yet. I've heard amazing things about the golf course. I know it's tough and my team is ready for the challenge."
The Florida State Match Up at the Seminole Legacy begins with a practice round on Thursday and each of the three rounds of the championship beginning at 8:45 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and 8:00 a.m. on Sunday. Westrup's Tigers begin their practice round on Thursday at 10:35 on hole No. 1.
Admission and parking are free on each of the four days of the event.
After that, she'll take her team to the Seminole Legacy Golf Club where she will take a look at one of the top collegiate courses in the nation for the first time.
It's then that Westrup will know she's home.
The first four-time All-American in program history returns to campus for the first time since she was inducted into the Florida State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019. She returns as the head coach of the University of Missouri women's golf team that will participate in the Florida State Match Up at the Seminole Legacy from Friday through Sunday.
"It's an absolute honor to be back to Florida State as a head coach after being a student-athlete here for four years," said Westrup. "I am extremely happy to be back as a head coach with the opportunity to show my players where I went to school."
Westrup is in her third season as the Tigers' head coach. Her golfing background, which saw her win five individual championships while she was a Seminole, has allowed her to jumpstart the program in Columbia. After fielding one of the nation's youngest teams in her first season with numerous program milestones, Westrup guided Missouri during the 2023-24 season to a program record with a 293.1 stroke average – nearly a six-stroke improvement from the season before Westrup's arrival.
"I love being a head coach and being able to share my experiences that I had as a student-athlete with my players," said Westrup. "I know what they are going through on a day-to-day basis. My main focus is to create character in them. I want them to come out stronger and prepared for their next step in their career. The players are the reason why I come in excited every single day to work."
Westrup entered the Florida State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019 ranked sixth in school history with a career stroke average of 73.23. While she won five individual tournament victories, she helped the Seminoles win five tournament championships.
Westrup earned All-America First-Team honors in 2006 and 2007 by the National Golf Coaches' Association and GolfWeek Magazine, All-America Second-Team honors in 2008 by the NGCA and GolfWeek and All-American Honorable Mention by GolfWeek in 2009.
She was Florida State's top individual finisher in 27 events during her career, ranked second in school history with 18 top-10 finishes, shot her career best single-round score of 66 five times and counted .986 percent of her rounds (108.5 of 110) toward the team score during her career, and is tied for fifth in school history with 42 rounds scored at par or better.
"The milestones that have shaped my life include graduating in four years from Florida State, playing on tour for nine years, and making it to the LPGA tour, which was a dream come true for me," said Westrup. "My life has been amazing from being inducted into Florida State Hall of Fame, to being inducted into WGCA Player Hall of Fame, to getting married and having two amazing kids."
Westrup and her team arrive in Tallahassee in the midst of one of the best seasons in school history.
The Tigers have earned three top-five finishes including runner-up placings at the Johnie Imes Invitational (the Tigers' home event) and the Marilynn Smith Sunflower Showdown. The Tigers are led by Ffion Tynan who has earned a 73.26 stroke average. Fleur van Beek who finished in second place at Missouri's home tournament.
Westrup competed in the NCAA Championship finals three times and won the individual championship at the 2006 World Amateur Championships. She is also one of only six players in school history to earn All-American Scholar Athlete honors as named by the National Golf Coaches' Association of America three times.
"I'm so excited to see the new golf course which has obviously changed since I've been there," said Westrup. "I was able to see the back nine in 2020, but the front nine had not been made yet. I've heard amazing things about the golf course. I know it's tough and my team is ready for the challenge."
The Florida State Match Up at the Seminole Legacy begins with a practice round on Thursday and each of the three rounds of the championship beginning at 8:45 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and 8:00 a.m. on Sunday. Westrup's Tigers begin their practice round on Thursday at 10:35 on hole No. 1.
Admission and parking are free on each of the four days of the event.
DC Tony White: “There’s something there”
Sunday, September 28
OC Gus Malzahn: "Respond to adversity"
Sunday, September 28
FSU Dive Meet 9/27/2025
Sunday, September 28
FSU Swim Meet 9/27/2025
Sunday, September 28