No. 3 Florida completed the first day of competition at the Chris Schenkel E-Z Go Invitational in fifth place. During the first round at the Forest Heights C.C. on Saturday, the Gators shot a team score of 294 (+6), then regrouped to record a 284 (+4) in the afternoon.

Senior Matt Every (Daytona Beach, Fla.) rebounded from a rough performance in Las Vegas last week to record a team-best score of 141 (-3) through the first two rounds. Every led the team by recording five birdies during the first round and is tied for fifth.

“I think that’s what we have come to expect from him most of the time,” Florida coach Buddy Alexander said. “He did a very good job in many ways today. I was very happy with Matt’s attitude because he was able to control his emotions.”

Freshman Toby Ragland (Jacksonville, Fla.) turned in a solid performance by carding scores of 74-72 = 146 (+2) to tie for 29th-place. Freshman Billy Horschel (Grant, Fla.) enters Sunday’s final round tied for 33rd after carding scores of 75-72 = 147 (+3). Senior Brett Stegmaier’s 69 (-3) during the second round helped him finish the day tied for 40th. James Vargas (Miami, Fla.) recorded scores of 75-74 = 149 (+5) and is tied for 46th.

“We didn’t do much of anything in the morning,” Alexander said. “We settled down in the afternoon and finished very well. We started to make shots and that is what you hope for.”

The Gators find themselves nine strokes behind North Carolina for the lead. The Tar Heels carded a two-round total of 569 (-7) to finish atop the leader board. The final round of the Chris Schenkel E-Z Go Invitational will begin at 8 a.m. on Sunday.

Florida Results

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