The University of North Florida has a new assistant golf coach, who is a decorated golfer and military member.
Tyler Gulliksen was named to the UNF staff this week, finalize a reorganization men’s and women’s programs under golf direction Scott Schroeder. Gulliksen will mainly work with the men’s team.
Schroeder, who has been a men’s coach for 18 years, oversees both teams, along with former UNF player Courtney Cobb as associate head coach of the women’s team. Another former Osprey player, Michael Mattiace is part of the staff as an assistant for both teams.
Gulliksen is a native of Ormond Beach and served as a volunteer assistant for three years to a former PGA Tour player. Chris Riley at the University of San Diego. Gulliksen is a 2010 graduate of the United States Naval Academy and earned a master’s degree from USD. He spent over 12 years in the Naval Special Operations community as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
Gullikesen has made several tours to the Middle East and North Africa as part of the United States’ global war on terrorism.
Gulliksen won the 2024 Florida State Golf Association Fourball with Ty Capps, was the finalist to Jimmy Ellis from Atlantic Beach in the Florida Amateur and reached the semifinals of the FSGA Mid-Amateur.
He and Capps also won the last two FSGA two-man and four-man championships for a total of five FSGA titles.
“He still plays at a very high level in state (amateur) football, so he brings a lot of strengths to the program,” Schroeder said in a statement.
Ponte Vedra Club and Omni Amelia ranked first
The Conde Nast Travelers Reader’s Choice Awards resulted in high marks for two First Coast resorts.
THE Ponte Vedra Inn and Club was ranked #2 resort in Florida and the Omni Amelia Resort was #4. The ranking was based on more than 500,000 votes cast by travelers and compiled by Condé Nast.
The Ponte Vedra Club was opened in 1928. The Ocean Course, among other rooms and facilities, will undergo renovation projects to coincide with the resort’s 100th anniversary. Strong Grass originally designed the Ocean Course and Robert Trent Jones And Joe Lee designed the Lagoon course. Bobby Weed carried out subsequent renovations on both courses.
The Omni Amelia Resort opened its doors in 1971. Its Pete DyeThe Oak Marsh-designed Oak Marsh course is scheduled to reopen on November 1 after renovation. The station also operates Long Point, designed by Tom Fazio and the nine holes Little Sandy course, designed by Beautiful Welling.
Aces at their highest in four decades
Tama Caldabaugh from Ponte Vedra Beach reached a milestone in his amateur golf career.
Caldabaugh, a four-time First Coast Women’s Senior Amateur division winner, had a hole-in-one Thursday during a Jacksonville Women’s Golf Association tournament at the Golf Club of Amelia. She used a pitching wedge to ace the fifth hole, 98 yards away.
That gives Caldabaugh a hole-in-one in each of the last four decades, in his 30s, 40s, 50s and now 60s. She shot 73 to win the raw division of the tournament.
Caldabaugh has six aces in total. His most memorable remains 2015 United States Senior Women’s Amateur when she aced the 14th hole at Hillwood Country Club in Nashville to fall asleep in her match. She then birdied the next hole to win. Her husband KC Caldabaugh was his junior that week.
Luke Balaskiewicz commits to UNF
Senior Bolles Luke Balaskiewicz made a verbal commitment to play golf at UNF according to his Instagram post. Balaskiewicz is currently ranked seventh among FHSAA Class 1A players in 9-hole matches and 18-hole events and is 14th overall in the state in 9-holes and 17th in 18-holes. … Jackson Runquist shot 3-under 68 at Jacksonville Beach Golf Club to lead Fletcher’s boys to the Gateway Conference championship at 12-over 284, 30 shots over runner-up Sandalwood. Atlantic Coast finished third, seven behind the Saints. Jackson Sullivan de Santal (70) finished second, Joseph Reed de Paxon (72) finished third and Cole Slater de Fletcher (73) finished fourth. … Cooper Franklin of Ponte Vedra birdied three of his final five holes for a final round of 67 at Lakewood National Piper Course and won the 16-18 division of the FJT Tour Championship by three shots at 7-under 209. Ryan Nicholson de Saint-Augustin (216) and Balaskiewicz (217 tied for sixth place. Jaspreet Kondal of St. Augustine (220) tied for fourth in the boys 13-15 division and Sofia Rivera of St. Augustine (223) tied for sixth among girls ages 13-15.
This article was originally published on Florida Times-Union: Tyler Gulliksen, Naval Academy graduate and five-time FSGA champion, hired at UNF
