ABOVE VIDEO: Daniela Iacobelli won the 2012 Daytona Beach Invitational, which earned her a fully exempt LPGA Card for 2013.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA — Daniela Iacobelli had just finished lunch with a friend when she found out she had been elected into the Florida Tech Sports Hall of Fame.
“It might be the biggest honor ever,” Daniela Iacobelli, a player on the 2013 LPGA Tour, said of her selection into the Florida Tech Sports Hall of Fame. “It’s something that will tie me with Florida Tech forever.” (LPGA image)
“I was actually in the car when I got the call and my jaw dropped,” she said. “I had to pull over.”
Not only is the 2007 NCAA Division II Individual National Champion the first Florida Tech golfer to be elected, the 26-year-old will be among the youngest persons inducted since the Florida Tech Sports Hall of Fame was established in 1986.
“It might be the biggest honor ever,” Iacobelli said of her selection. “It’s something that will tie me with Florida Tech forever.”
FLORIDA TECH’S FIRST-EVER NATIONAL GOLF TITLE
Iacobelli was just a sophomore at Florida Tech when she traveled to Pace to take on a national field at the Stonebrook Golf Club.
Daniela Iacobelli is the 2007 NCAA Division II Individual National Champion, the first Florida Tech golfer to be elected, and the 26-year-old will be among the youngest ever inducted since the Florida Tech Sports Hall of Fame was established in 1986.
Tied for the lead heading into the final round, Iacobelli eagled the 10th hole for the second day in a row and shot a two-over 74 to claim Florida Tech’s first-ever national golf championship. Overall, she shot a five-over 293 (72-74-73-74) for the four-day tournament.
“It was a huge week for me and I was so excited to have my coach (Janie Farina) with me for every hole,” Iacobelli said.
“It was like I had a caddy (even though I was carrying my own bag). She kept me mentally tough and I felt like it was my main advantage over the rest of the field. Everyone else saw their coach every few holes. Mine was with me for every shot. I actually remember almost every hole. It’s something I’ll never forget!”
The Sunshine State Conference Freshman of the Year in 2006 and the 2007 SSC Tournament medalist, Iacobelli holds five Florida Tech career records and holds or shares 11 single-season records.
The Sunshine State Conference Freshman of the Year in 2006 and the 2007 SSC Tournament medalist, Daniela Iacobelli holds five Florida Tech career records and holds or shares 11 single-season records.
In many cases, she holds the first, second and third best single-season numbers.
Though not highly recruited out of Satellite High School, Iacobelli always had dreams of playing professional golf. Winning a national championship showed her that those dreams could become reality.
“That week was validation that if I work hard enough I will be good enough,” she said.
IACOBELLI WILL NEVER FORGET HER TIME AT FLORIDA TECH
Iacobelli played on the LPGA Tour last season, traveling to countries like Australia and New Zealand, places she never thought she would be able to visit. She shot a career low 65 on her second day at an event in Phoenix. While she pursues her quest to get back to the LPGA Tour and create new memories, Iacobelli will never forget her time at Florida Tech.
Asked what she would say to potential recruits, the Hall of Famer said:
Daniela Iacobelli
“My biggest selling point on the school has always been the size. Although it is growing, it was always a huge thing for me that my classes were small. I think my biggest class at Tech was around 60 people.
“It was such a good feeling to have all my professors know my name and understand my schedule. They were always willing to help when I was gone on trips and would go as far as sending encouraging emails. It’s awesome to see the school growing so much and getting new majors, so I’m sure it’s even better now than when I went!”
