For the second-straight appearance, the University of Florida dropped a close semifinals match at the Callaway Golf Collegiate Match Play Championships, falling to fourth-seeded UCLA, 3-1-1. The loss moves Florida’s overall record to 12-6 in the program’s five appearances in the tournament.

Junior Toby Ragland (Jacksonville , Fla.) served as the only Gator to garner a win, defeating UCLA’s Jason Kang, 1 up. Ragland held a one-hole advantage in 15 of the 18 holes, including five of the last six. Ragland moves to 3-2-1 in his career in match play as a Gator and 1-1 this week. Senior Tyler Brown (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) continued his impressive play, halving his match with Phillip Francis.

Junior Billy Horschel (Grant, Fla.) and freshman Arnond “Bank” Vongvanij (Bradenton, Fla.) faced two of the nation’s top-10 college players in the form of Bruins’ Erik Flores and Kevin Chappell, respectively. Horschel was ahead or tied with Flores for most of the match, but lost the lead on the 15th hole, falling, 3 and 1. Vongvanij never had the lead against Chappell, the fifth-best collegiate individual as rated in the Golfweek/Sagarin ratings, losing the match, 3 and 2. 

Senior Manuel Villegas (Medillin, Colombia) rounds out the Florida lineup, falling to James Lee, 1 up. Villegas grabbed the lead in the match with four holes to play, but dropped the next two holes to lose the lead and the round.

“We just didn’t get it done today,” Florida head coach Buddy Alexander said. “We dropped three matches that we had the lead in with five holes to play. We didn’t give it away, by any means, UCLA is one of the best teams out here.”

Florida will face Southeastern Conference foe South Carolina for third place Tuesday. Live scoring can be found at www.golfstat.com or via www.gatorzone.com.

Round Three Team Results

Winners Matches

(3) Georgia Tech def. (10) South Carolina, 3-2

(4) UCLA def. (9) FLORIDA, 3-1-1

Consolation Matches

(1) Charlotte def. (13) Minnesota, 3-2

(7) Florida State def. (11) Lamar, 3-2

Florida’s Round Three Results

Erick Flores def. Billy Horschel, 4 and 3

Tyler Brown halved Phillip Francis

James Lee def. Manuel Villegas, 1 Up

Toby Ragland def. Jason Kang def., 1 Up

Kevin Chappell def. Arnond Vongvanij, 3 and 2

-UF-