Florida Men’s Golf Takes Seventh Consecutive Gators Invitational Title
No. 10 Florida men’s golf won the 49th Gators Invitational on Sunday at Mark Bostick Golf Course for the seventh consecutive season.
The Gators reigned victorious against a field that included the last three NCAA champions in No. 2 Auburn, No. 12 Oklahoma State and Florida itself. The field also included No. 21 Notre Dame and No. 20 Charlotte.
Florida finished -27 on the weekend, followed by Auburn with a -13 and Oklahoma State at -2. The Gators’ 813 total score is third best in the invitational’s history under coach J.C. Deacon.
“Really proud of the guys,” Deacon said. “If we take care of our business and play our best, I think we know we can beat anyone, especially on our home golf course.”
Senior Matthew Kress and junior Noah Kent led the way for Florida, both finishing six-under par to tie for third with USF’s Wilhelm Ryding. Auburn’s Jackson Koivun, the No. 2 player in the nation, finished first individually at nine-under par.
Kress finished even on Day 2, including an eagle on hole 14 after chipping in from right next to the cart path.
It was a full-circle moment for Kress. After watching the Gators play in the invitational as a redshirt freshman, Kress finished third overall on the weekend in his first time leading off in the tournament.
“I didn’t want to end my career here at Florida losing this tournament,” Kress said. “It’s pretty cool to just defend our home turf.”
Kress, who witnessed the Gators winning the 2023 NCAA Championship, will end his tenure in Gainesville without a loss in the Gators Invitational.
Meanwhile, Kent finished two-under in round three, capping an impressive debut in Florida’s lineup.
“Just kept the ball in front of me, which was the plan the whole entire day,” Kent said. “At the end I gave myself two pretty good looks to shoot two under.”
Not far behind was sophomore Zack Swanwick. The New Zealand native led Florida on Day 2 with a -7 score. He finished the weekend sixth overall. Junior Jack Turner and sophomore Parker Sands tied for seventh place to round out Florida’s five-man lineup.
Strong wind gusts proved to be a challenge for the participating teams on Sunday. After going 14-under in round two, Florida went cold with 10 bogies in the first nine holes of round three.
“I knew it was gonna be hard, especially when the wind switched,” Kent said. “Once the ball is in the air there’s nothing you can do about it.”
The stretch allowed Auburn to take back ground behind Koivun and Jake Albert to pull within two strokes.
But, four birdies from Kress, Swanwick, Sands and Kent on hole 12 set the tone for the back nine, when the Gators pulled away to secure their fourth straight tournament victory dating back to the fall.
“We’re gonna take it one day at a time just like we always have,” Kress said. “We know how good we are.”
Florida has won this tourney eight times from 2004-11, nine between 1989-1997 and for the 32nd time overall.
The Gators will be back in action March 1 to begin the Southern Highlands Collegiate in Las Vegas.
Category: Feature Sports News, Gator Sports, Gators Men's Golf, Golf
