Junior Billy Horschel (Grant, Fla.) carded a final-round 71 to share seventh place as the No. 7 University of Florida men’s golf team concluded the 2008 Southeastern Conference Championship with fourth place on Sunday at the Frederica Golf Club.

Ideal scoring conditions greeted all 12 teams, and the Gators posted a 2-over 290 to sit alone in fourth place. After two days of high scores, the three teams ahead of Florida in the standings separated themselves from the field.

“It was a disappointing day for us,” UF head coach Buddy Alexander said. “We got off to a poor start and did not putt very well today. I thought we didn’t respond well like we could have.”

No. 1 Alabama ran away from the field with a 13-under 275 on Sunday to win the conference title by eight shots at 11-under 853 overall. South Carolina’s 10-under 278 propelled the Gamecocks to second place at 3-under 861. Georgia was third at 2-under 862. Florida finished with a 54-hole total of 8-over 872, a 10-stroke difference from third place.

“Today the wind blew less and we started earlier, but we couldn’t take advantage of the scoring conditions,” Alexander said. “The pin placements were no different or harder than they had been in the previous two days. The teams ahead of us really stepped it up and that was shown by their under-par scores.”

Alabama’s Michael Thompson, who played in last week’s Masters, carded a tournament-low 7-under 65 to win the individual medal by four shots over South Carolina’s George Bryan IV and teammate Joseph Sykora. Thompson entered the weekend as the nation’s second-ranked player. His 54-hole total was 8-under 208 (70-73-65).

Horschel’s 1-under round left the two-time All-American at even-par 216 (71-74-71) and a tie for seventh with four other players. Horschel’s finish represented the 11th straight season a Gator has placed in the individual top-10 standings. That streak began at the 1998 SEC Championship in Athens, Ga.

Horschel began his day in a tie for 12th, but the junior elevated his way up the standings with an impressive back nine. After registering a 1-over front nine, Horschel played his final six holes at 3-under and capped his round with a birdie on the par-5 18th. His seventh-place finish tied for his career-best at the event also set in 2006.

Senior Tyler Brown (Jacksonville, Fla.) wrapped up his final SEC Championship with a share of 12th place following an even-par 72. Brown’s 1-over 217 (74-71-72) total gave the senior his second straight top-15 finish at the event. He provided the second UF eagle of the tournament with a two at the par-4 sixth.

Senior Manuel Villegas (Medellin, Colombia) turned in his best round of the weekend with a 1-under 71 to share 15th. Villegas played his final 13 holes at 3-under, and his scorecard featured 13 pars, three birdies and two bogeys. Villegas recorded his fifth finish in the top 15 or better this season with his 2-over 218 (72-75-71).

Sophomore Tyson Alexander (Gainesville, Fla.) tied for 25th place following a 4-over 76. Alexander concluded the tournament at 5-over 221 (73-72-76). Junior Toby Ragland (Jacksonville, Fla.) matched Alexander’s score of 76 to finish in a tie for 54th at 15-over 231 (80-75-76).

Florida will now await a bid to an NCAA Regional at a site to be determined. NCAA Regionals take place May 15-17 and lead up the 2008 NCAA Championship, May 28-31, at the Purdue Golf Club in West Lafayette, Ind.

Final Team Scores

Final Individual Top 10

Final Florida Results