BOCA RATON, Fla. — The women's golf team at Florida Atlantic University resumed competition Monday for the first time in almost a year.
FAU is the host school for the Paradise Invitational at the Boca Lago Golf & Country Club.
— FAU Women's Golf (@FAUWGolf) February 8, 2021
The Owls joined 13 other schools, among them Michigan State, Ohio State and Vanderbilt, in the two-day, 54-hole tournament.
It is the Owls' first tournament since the Florida Gators Invitational last March, when the coronavirus pandemic abruptly brought their season to an end.
FAU head coach Aimee Neff said she's excited to be playing while so many other schools haven't restarted their sports programs.
"Unfortunately, there's over 260 Division I golf teams and only 54 played in the fall, so for many teams, this is their first tournament," Neff said.
Bill Ashford, head golf pro at Boca Lago, said he worked with FAU and Neff to find the safest way to host the tournament.
"We've gone back and forth with so much work to put this planning together," Ashford said.
As part of the COVID-19 protocols in place, all participants had to test negative for the virus within 48 hours of traveling.
Groups were limited to five players and required to remain socially distanced. No spectators were allowed to watch.
