NCAA Golf News

Gators Continue Spring at Sea Best Invitational

Gators Continue Spring at Sea Best Invitational


TOURNAMENT INFORMATION

Dates:
Monday, Jan. 29 – Tuesday, Jan. 30
Location: Jacksonville, Fla. – TPC Sawgrass (Dye’s Valley Course)
Host: Jacksonville University 
Course Par/Yardage: 70 / 6,790 yards 
Format: 36 holes on Monday and 18 on Tuesday 
Tee Times: 8 a.m. on Monday and TBD on Tuesday 
Scoring: Golf Stat
Social Media: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
 
TEE OFF
The Florida men’s golf team continues the spring season at the Sea Best Invitational (Jan. 30-31) at TPC Sawgrass, a tournament that Gators have dominated.

TOURNAMENT HISTORY

Florida has captured success at the Sea Best Invitational, winning the tournament back-to-back seasons (2010-11 & 2011-12) in the team’s first two outings. The Gators won the event in consecutive seasons (2022-23, 2021-22) for the third time last season, totaling its sixth total team win at the tournament.  

Last season, the Gators won the tournament for the fourth time under head coach J.C. Deacon and won the field by 23 strokes behind Fred Biondi’s solo victory. Four Gators; Miguel Leal (T5), Matthew Kress (T9), John DuBois (T15) and Tyler Wilkes (T18) all had finished top-20 last year. 

LAST TIME OUT

UF kicked off the spring season with a 6-1 victory over Jacksonville at the Pablo Creek Collegiate Cup last week. The win marked the fourth straight spring opening win for the Gators.

John DuBois picked up his ninth career match play victory, the most in program history since 1970. It also gave head coach J.C. Deacon his 14th, which moved him to most match play wins by a head coach in UF history since 1970. 

FALL RECAP

UF highlighted the first half of the season with the victory at the Georgetown Intercollegiate with a 17-shot victory behind Matthew Kress’ first collegiate victory and the 22nd all-time under head coach J.C. Deacon

Kress leads the team in stroke average (70.8) followed behind transfer Ian Gilligan, who are both tied for a team-best four top-25 finishes out of five fall tournaments. 

PROMOTED

Prior to the 2023-24 season getting underway, head coach J.C. Deacon announced the promotion of Gator Great and assistant Coach Dudley Hart to Associate Head Coach. 

Hart was also named an assistant coach for Team USA at the 2024 Arnold Palmer Cup this summer at Lahinch Golf Club in Lahinch, Ireland from July 5-7.

NEW GATORS

Florida welcomed three newcomers this season in freshmen Rylan Shim (Centreville, Virginia), and Jack Turner (Orlando, Fla.) and All-American transfer Ian Gilligan (Reno, N.V.)

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