Gabrelcik returns to Valspar Championship for second consecutive year
Nick Gabrelcik, a senior studying sports management at the University of North Florida, is competing in the PGA Tour Valspar Championship for a second consecutive year from March 21 to March 24 in Palm Harbor.
Having originally made his PGA Tour debut at the Championship in 2023 with a 4-under 67 score in the second round, which solidified his position above the cut line as one of the 72 players in the field of 144, Gabrelcik completed the weekend with a score of 8-over 292. He was joined by Ludvig Aberg as the only two amateurs to make the cut at a non-major tournament for the first time since 2020.
This weekend, Gabrelcik is among the four sponsor exemptions in the event. He is currently ranked No. 3 overall in the PGA Tour University rankings. The top five ranked players at the end of the season will receive exemptions on the Korn Ferry Tour.
“It’s really cool for Nick to play in his second tour event,” said UNF men’s golf head coach Scott Schroeder. “It is great that we can go support him this time as well.”
From Trinity, Florida, Gabrelcik credits his collegiate success to his early days of learning golf under his brother’s guidance at the age of eight, as well as the time he spent on the Florida Junior Tour and in various amateur events. Gabrelcik said he chose to attend UNF based on what he’d heard from several other golfers at the University, and he found Schroeder to be a great motivator.
Gabrelcik’s success with golf has been recognized nationally, including being selected to join Team USA for the Arnold Cup for three consecutive years. Last year, he became only the second Osprey to be named to the American team for the 49th Walker Cup. He has placed first overall for the ninth time during his college career, and he has been awarded ASUN Men’s Golfer of the Week 15 times, becoming the top all-time weekly award recipient for men’s golf in Atlantic Sun Conference history, as announced by the league office.
Also competing this weekend in the PGA Tour Valspar Championship is UNF alum Kevin Aylwin (‘12), who majored in business management and also played under Schroeder.