Junior Tim McKenney (Scottsdale, Ariz.) and senior Will Strickler (Charlottesville, Va.) each shot final-round 72’s (+1) to lead the University of Florida men’s golf team to a second-place finish at the Columbia Invitational. McKenney claimed a share of the individual title with a three-day total of 221 (+8).

The Gators improved their second round score by 10-strokes on the final day, carding a 10-over par 294 to finish at 903 (+51) for the tournament. The second-place finish is the highest of the season for the Gators.

McKenney got better each day, shooting 75-74-72 to finish tied at the top of the leaderboard with TCU’s Tom Hoge at eight-over par 221. The first-place finish is the best of McKenney’s collegiate career, one spot better than his finish earlier in the month at the Duke Individual Collegiate.

Freshman Mu Hu (Shen Zhen, China) shot a final-round 74 (+3) and tied for sixth place. Hu’s sixth-place finish is the best of his short Gator career.

Strickler finished in a tie for 11th at 15-over par 228 for the tournament. His final round 72 (+1) was his lowest round of the fall season.

Junior Tyson Alexander (Gainesville, Fla.) and senior Toby Ragland (Jacksonville, Fla.) each shot five-over par 76 on the last day. Alexander finished with a three-day total of 229 (+16) and earned a 13th place finish. Struggling in the first two rounds, Ragland finished tied for 38th at 24-over par 237.

TCU took first place, shooting a final-round 291 (+7) and finishing the tournament at 894 (+42).

This was the final event of the fall season for the Gators. The spring season will begin with the Gators hosting two tournaments. On February 2, Florida will host the Golden Ocala Collegiate. Mark Bostick Golf Course will host the 32nd annual SunTrust Gator Invitational February 14-15.

UF Results

T1. Tim McKenney, 75-74-72=221 (+8)

T6. Mu Hu, 72-80-74=226 (+13)

T11. Will Strickler, 79-77-72=228 (+15)

13. Tyson Alexander, 79-74-76=229 (+16)

T38. Toby Ragland, 82-79-76=237 (+24)

2008 Columbia Invitational Final Results