TALLAHASSEE, Fla – During the first nine years of the Florida State Match Up, there have been seven different team champions, seven match up champions and 11 individual champions. The event has been played on three different courses at two different locations in the capital city of Florida and has hosted countless teams who have played in the NCAA championship tournament.
Florida State is the most successful team in the history of the championship with three team victories (2016, 2017, 2021), three match up wins (2015, 2016, 2017 all with Texas A&M) and four individual champions (Matilda Castren in 2014, Morgane Metraux in 2017, Beatrice Wallin in 2021 and Amelia Williamson in 2022).
Seminole Head Coach Amy Bond, a pioneer among golf coaches who has continued to refine the championship throughout its relatively short history, is excited to host the Match Up for the 10th time this weekend (March 17-19) at the Seminole Legacy Golf Club.
“In my mind, the most special part about the Match Up is that it brings people together,” said Bond. “During a round of golf, you spend four to five hours with another player, which allows you to talk with, and get to know, one another. I have met some of my best friends on the golf course.”
The Seminole Legacy was recently recognized as one of the top 30 best golf course in the state of Florida.
For Bond, who came up with the idea while driving her car, the Florida State Match Up is an event she works on throughout the year.
“I originally wanted it to be rivals playing together,” said Bond. “I began by making calls to teams who were not allowed play with their rivals, and changed the process to one team inviting another team they wanted to play with during the tournament. I thought it would be fun to send out invitations and be surprised by who each team invited team chose to play with. Honestly, half of the field is a surprise to me each year.
“I came up with the idea while I was driving in my car on the way home from my first niece’s birth.”
The first Match Up championship was played at Southwood Golf Course in 2013 with Georgia winning the team championship, Georgia and Oklahoma taking the match up title and Rocio Sanchez Labato of Georgia and Erika Popson of Tennessee sharing the inaugural individual championship in 2013.
“I envisioned the Match Up to be a fun way to kick off the spring season,” said Bond. “I wanted the players to understand the…
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