The University of Florida Men’s Golf team completed the regular season on Tuesday by placing second at the United States Collegiate Championship. The Gators recorded scores of 287-288-292 = 867 (+3) to finish four strokes behind Clemson, who won the tournament with a total of 864 (E).

Senior Matt Every (Daytona Beach, Fla.) stayed in the hunt for his second individual medal of the season despite an up-and-down performance in the third round. Every began the day tied for second, but opened his round with a pair of bogies. He recovered nicely with birdies on four of the next eight holes to stay at three-under-par. Every finished the tournament tied for fourth with scores of 68-72-73 = 213 (-3).   

“We played solidly again today, but didn’t quite get it done,” Florida coach Buddy Alexander said. “We’re getting tired of finishing second. It means we’re playing well but not pushing through enough. We are capable of winning, but at some point in time we have to get thought.”

The Gators have placed either first or second in six of their 10 tournaments, but have not won since the SunTrust Gator Invitational in February. Alexander was still pleased with the team’s consistency heading into the SEC Tournament in less than two weeks.

“It’s a good sign that we have played solidly every time out when this lineup plays together,” Alexander said. “That is what is encouraging.”

Freshman Billy Horschel (Grant, Fla.) improved with each round of the tournament to finished tied for seventh with scores of 73-72-71 = 216 (E). Horschel had a clean round on Tuesday with two birdies on the front nine and only one bogey for the day.

After carding a 67 (-4) during the second round on Monday, senior Brett Stegmaier (Madison, Conn.) earned a top-20 finish with a third round score of 80 (+8). Senior James Vargas (Miami, Fla.) tied for 31st-place with scores of 72-77-75 = 224 (+8), while freshman Toby Ragland (Jacksonville, Fla.) rounded out the lineup by carding a three round total of 227 (+11) to finished tied for 40th.

Sophomore Manuel Villegas (Medellin, Colombia) competed as an individual and finished the tournament in 61st-place with scores of 76-81-78 = 235 (+19).

The Gators will begin preparing for the SEC Tournament at the Seaside Resort in Georgia, April 21-23. Complete results from the United States Collegiate Championship can be found at www.golfstat.com.

Team Results

Top-10 Individuals

Florida Results

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