Women's Golf Brings In First Pair of Signees for '24 Class
11/10/2023 4:00:00 PM | Women's Golf
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida women's golf reel in its first signees of the 2024 signing class with Aitana Tuesta and Braydn Smith officially joining the Osprey family, as announced by head coach Joanne Berglund on Wednesday afternoon.
Hometown: La Molina, Lima, Perú
High School: Newton College
Intended Major: Business
Junior/Amateur: Played on the GolfPerú Junior Tour, the AJGA, and the SFPGA...was the Peruvian National Junior Stroke Play champion in 2022, the champion at the VIII Junior Tour Tournament and the champion at the XII Junior Tour Tournament...played in various amateur tournaments, such as the Bolivarian Games (2022), South American Games (2022), South American Amateur (2022, 2023), Women's Amateur Latin America (2022, 2023) and South American Team Championship "Copa Los Andres" (2023)...other honors and titles include being runner-up at the Peruvian National Matchplay Championship in 2021, the winner of the Peruvian National Amateur Women's Raking in 2022, the Peruvian National Stroke Play champion in 2022, the Peruvian National Matchplay champion in 2022 and the champion at the GolfPerú Open III.
Chose UNF because "I was looking for a place that would push me to be better in every sense of the word and allow me to grow into the person I know I am destined to be. I was lucky enough to find it at the University of North Florida. After visiting UNF, meeting the team, the coaches and really getting to know the culture, I knew it was the right place for me."
Coach's Thoughts: "Aitana [Tuesta]'s commitment and passion for golf has translated into a very successful junior career. We feel she will make an immediate impact on our team. Aitana has high aspirations for golf, which are going to take her far. We look forward to helping her achieve them."
-- head coach Joanne Berglund Â
Hometown: Gainesville, Fla.
High School: Buchholz HS
Intended Major: Sports Journalism
Junior/Amateur: Played on the Florida Junior Tour, Gainesville Junior Tour, and Mid-Florida Junior Tour...won the FJT LPGA Open in 2023...was given the honor of Player of the Year in 2021, as well as being recognized as a Florida Cup Member in 2023...qualified for both the 93rd and 94th Women's Amateur Championship in 2022 and 2023.
High School: Played varsity golf all four years of high school...was selected as the Alachua County Golfer of the Year, as well as Melton Law's Athlete of the Week...has been the No. 1 seed all four years...she is a district Individual winner, who placed second in the State Championship of 2022 and led the state of Florida in birdies all four years of HS...as a senior, she shot 6-under 66 in districts and 4-under 68 in regionals with 44 birdies made in 2023.
Chose UNF because "of the great opportunities that UNF has to offer. I am very excited to take my golf career to the next level, along with my academic career as well."
Coach's Thoughts: "Braydn [Smith] has risen to be one of the top junior players in the state of Florida. We are so excited she has chosen UNF to continue her athletic and academic careers. Her strength is her distance and she is a consistent ball striker, both of which will help her easily transition to college golf."
-- head coach Joanne Berglund
Aitana Tuesta
Hometown: La Molina, Lima, PerúHigh School: Newton College
Intended Major: Business
Junior/Amateur: Played on the GolfPerú Junior Tour, the AJGA, and the SFPGA...was the Peruvian National Junior Stroke Play champion in 2022, the champion at the VIII Junior Tour Tournament and the champion at the XII Junior Tour Tournament...played in various amateur tournaments, such as the Bolivarian Games (2022), South American Games (2022), South American Amateur (2022, 2023), Women's Amateur Latin America (2022, 2023) and South American Team Championship "Copa Los Andres" (2023)...other honors and titles include being runner-up at the Peruvian National Matchplay Championship in 2021, the winner of the Peruvian National Amateur Women's Raking in 2022, the Peruvian National Stroke Play champion in 2022, the Peruvian National Matchplay champion in 2022 and the champion at the GolfPerú Open III.
Chose UNF because "I was looking for a place that would push me to be better in every sense of the word and allow me to grow into the person I know I am destined to be. I was lucky enough to find it at the University of North Florida. After visiting UNF, meeting the team, the coaches and really getting to know the culture, I knew it was the right place for me."
Coach's Thoughts: "Aitana [Tuesta]'s commitment and passion for golf has translated into a very successful junior career. We feel she will make an immediate impact on our team. Aitana has high aspirations for golf, which are going to take her far. We look forward to helping her achieve them."
-- head coach Joanne Berglund Â
Braydn Smith
Hometown: Gainesville, Fla.High School: Buchholz HS
Intended Major: Sports Journalism
Junior/Amateur: Played on the Florida Junior Tour, Gainesville Junior Tour, and Mid-Florida Junior Tour...won the FJT LPGA Open in 2023...was given the honor of Player of the Year in 2021, as well as being recognized as a Florida Cup Member in 2023...qualified for both the 93rd and 94th Women's Amateur Championship in 2022 and 2023.
High School: Played varsity golf all four years of high school...was selected as the Alachua County Golfer of the Year, as well as Melton Law's Athlete of the Week...has been the No. 1 seed all four years...she is a district Individual winner, who placed second in the State Championship of 2022 and led the state of Florida in birdies all four years of HS...as a senior, she shot 6-under 66 in districts and 4-under 68 in regionals with 44 birdies made in 2023.
Chose UNF because "of the great opportunities that UNF has to offer. I am very excited to take my golf career to the next level, along with my academic career as well."
Coach's Thoughts: "Braydn [Smith] has risen to be one of the top junior players in the state of Florida. We are so excited she has chosen UNF to continue her athletic and academic careers. Her strength is her distance and she is a consistent ball striker, both of which will help her easily transition to college golf."
-- head coach Joanne Berglund
UNF Women's Golf First Coast Classic
Thursday, July 06
Ospreys 2016-2017 Year-in-Review
Saturday, July 01
2017 Student-Athlete Banquet Highlights
Monday, April 24
2016-2017 UNF Student Athlete Awards Banquet - Senior Send-Off
Friday, April 21
