Chalk a chunk of Marife Torres‘s slow start to the language barrier. Torres, who then went by Maria Torres, came to Florida by way of Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, and spoke very little English. That was only part of the problem, though. During their first two years together, Glaser and Torres had some frank conversations about the player’s maturity, accountability and willingness to communicate, despite challenges with the language.
Eventually, Torres figured some things out. Enough, in fact, to make program history as a junior when she won the 2016 Southeastern Conference championship by shooting a 9-under score of 207 at Greystone Golf & Country Club in Birmingham, Ala. In doing so, Torres became the first UF golfer to win the women’s league medalist title since 2003 and went on to become the first to be crowned SEC Player of the Year since 1990.
Torres, who a year later helped guide the Gators to the 2017 conference team title, graduated that year and turned professional, becoming the first player from Puerto Rico to earn full membership on the LPGA Tour. Now 26, Torres’s pro career includes four career top-10 finishes and total earnings of $602,398.
And a spot in the 2021 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, representing her native P.R.
AT A GLANCE
SPORT: Women’s golf
HOW SHE QUALIFIED: According to the LPGA, the top 15 players in the Olympic Golf Rankings (which essentially mirror the Official World Golf Ranking for men and the Rolex Rankings for women) will be eligible for the Olympics up to a maximum of four golfers per country. Torres, whose LPGA name is Maria Fernanda Torres, is the only qualifier from Puerto Rico, so she’s going to Tokyo.
TOKYO SCHEDULE: July 29-Aug. 1 at Kasumigaseki Country Club in Kasahata, Saitama, about 35 miles northwest of downtown Tokyo.
UF CAREER: Her freshman and sophomore seasons virtually mirrored each other, with five top-25 finishes and two top 10s in both. Then came that 2016 junior campaign when in addition to SEC Player of the Year accolades she was named honorable mention All America and first-team all-conference after winning two tournaments to go with five top-10 finishes, 10 in the top 25 and a stroke average of 72.03 that ranks No. 2 in program history.
NEED TO KNOW: Believe it or not, Torres is the only member of her family who plays golf. She has a younger brother who played tennis at Southern New Hampshire University.
QUOTE OF NOTE: “It feels spectacular. I have no words to describe it yet. I am so thankful for my teammates, my coaches, the University of Florida and my team and everyone back home in Puerto Rico. Without them, I would not have been able to accomplish this.” — Torres after winning the 2016 SEC championship on April 17, 2016 at Birmingham.
Previously: “Gators in the Olympics” Series
June 26: Cory McGee
June 27: Michelle Moultrie
June 28: Natalie Hinds
June 29: Adriana Leon
June 30: Enzo Martinez-Scarpe
July 1: Kieran Smith
July 2: Genevieve LaCaze Gregson
July 3: Will Claye
July 4: Mark Kolozsuary
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