Three University of Florida golfers are in a tie for 12th place as the seventh-ranked Gators are within four shots of the lead in third place after the second round of the 2008 Southeastern Conference Championship on Saturday at the Frederica Golf Club.

Florida posted a 4-over 292 in the second round and stands one stroke behind second-place Georgia, who recorded a score of 3-over 291 on Saturday. First-round leader and the nation’s top-ranked team Alabama maintained its first round lead with a 5-over 293 that put them at 2-over 578 for the tournament. The Gators hold a 36-hole tally of 6-over 582.

“It was almost the same as yesterday in that we dropped a spot but gained a stroke,” UF head coach Buddy Alexander said. “Obviously, the golf course is not separating the field. There are some generous driving areas here, and it has been a putting contest. It makes for an exciting event heading into the final round.”

Late-afternoon blustery conditions resulted in only one round under-par held by Tennessee after a 1-under 287. Through 36 holes, no team is under par for the tournament. The Volunteers are one shot back of Florida at 7-over 583 with South Carolina.

Senior Tyler Brown (Jacksonville, Fla.) posted the low UF round of the day with a 1-under 71 that advanced him 12 places to a tie for 12th place with six other players, including sophomore Tyson Alexander (Gainesville, Fla.) and junior Billy Horschel (Grant, Fla.). Alabama's Joseph Sykora holds a one-shot lead at 3-under following a second-round 73.

“Tyler Brown fought back well today,” Alexander said. “It was nice to see that. We have to get Billy going tomorrow to have a shot. If he can make some putts, we have a chance.”

Brown recorded four birdies on the day. After counting a 1-under scorecard on his front nine, the senior played his final seven holes at 3-under highlighted by back-to-back birdies on holes 12 and 13. Brown finished off his impressive round with a birdie at the par-5 18th. He entered the day in a tie for 24th place following an opening-round 74 and is at 1-over 145 for the tournament.

Alexander once again got off to a stellar start with birdies in two of his first four holes. The sophomore took bogeys on holes 16 and 17 before closing with a birdie-four on the 18th.

Horschel is the third UF golfer in 12th place following a 2-over 74 that put him at 1-over through 36 holes. Horschel, who entered the day in a tie for fourth place, carded consecutive birdies on holes seven and eight, but the red figures were negated by bogeys on his next three holes.

Senior Manuel Villegas (Medellin, Colombia) tallied a second-round 75 (+3) and is one of three players tied for 23rd place. Villegas struggled with three bogeys on his front nine, but he played his final nine holes at even par. The senior managed his only birdie with a four at the par-5 15th. He sits at 3-over 147 overall.

Junior Toby Ragland (Jacksonville, Fla.) improved three spots to 55th place following a second-round 75 (+3). Ragland, who shot an 80 on Friday, is at 11-over 155 for the tournament.

Championship Sunday tee times get underway off both the No. 1 and No. 10 tees at 8 a.m. ET at the par-72 Tom Fazio layout. Florida is in the final set of pairings with No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Georgia and will seek its 15th SEC title beginning at 8:50 a.m. ET. Live scoring of the final round can be found at www.Gatorzone.com and www.Golfstat.com.

“We’re in the last group in the final day of the tournament,” Alexander said. “That’s what you hope for. Hopefully, we have a great round in us. We have done it before, and we can do it again.”

Team Scores After Round 2

Individual Top 10 Through Round 2 

Florida Results After Round 2