Gators Win Calusa Cup to Finish Regular-Season

The victory was the second straight, marking the sixth team title of the season and in back-to-back seasons Florida has won the regular-season finale. Also, the Gators have recorded consecutive seasons with six wins for the first time since 1973-74 and 1974-75.  

Florida ended the spring portion of the season with five tournament wins and a 4th place finish at the Southern Highlands Collegiate, that featured Ian Gilligan winning medalist honors and earning an exemption into the 2024 Shriners Open.   

The Orange and Blue have now claimed 27 team titles under head coach J.C. Deacon in 10 seasons. This is the seventh season under Deacon UF has won multiple tournaments in a year and fourth of three-plus. Six tournament wins in a season is tied for the most under Deacon, which came last season and included an SEC and National Championship. 

Of the last six rounds, Florida has held the team lead and continued this week for a six-shot victory at Calusa Pines Golf Club. In the four stroke play tournament wins, the Gators won by a combined 26 strokes.

Freshman Jack Turner led the lineup with a third place finish and score of 212 (-4). The performance was his fifth top-14 of the season in six starts and has shot under-par last three consecutive events. He finished two shots behind the individual winner, Scotty Kennon of Wake Forest who set the tournament record at 6-under.  

All six Gators ended in the top-20 with Matthew Kress taking 8th with a mark of 217 (+1). He and Ian Gilligan both gave UF counting rounds of 71 (-1) today. Gilligan placed T16 for his ninth top-21 of the season as Luke Poulter (I) also finished T16.

Senior Tyler Wilkes tied for 12th for his sixth top-20 of the season as Parker Bell rounded out the Gators finishing T20.  

   

Florida now preps and will defend its title at the SEC Championship from April 24-28 at Sea Island GC in St. Simonds, Ga. 

Florida Scores

 

Team Scores