The University of Florida men’s golf team opened the 2005 Gary Koch Intercollegiate on Monday morning by firing an 11-under-par score of 277 at Old Memorial Golf Club. The Gators find themselves leading the 12-team tournament through the first of three rounds by nine shots ahead of Southeastern Conference rivals Kentucky and LSU.

As the temperature on the golf course continued to rise above 90 degrees, so did the Gators’ performance. Florida’s team score of 277 was the fourth-best round during the tournament’s six-year history and all of the Gators five players finished with scores even or under-par.

Florida senior James Vargas (Miami, Fla.) led the 60-player field by recording a 67 (-5) during the opening round. Vargas made birdies on six holes, including one on the 642-yard, par-5 12th-hole.

In his collegiate debut, freshman Toby Ragland (Jacksonville, Fla.) had a round of 69 for the Gators. Texas A&M’s Robert Gates Jr. and USF’s Kevin Tilbury also recorded scores of 69 to tie Ragland for second place.

Florida players had plenty of success playing on the par-3, 668-yard third hole at Old Memorial. Ragland and classmate Billy Horschel (Grant, Fla.) both birdied the hole. Horschel went on to finish with a 72 (E) and recorded his third round of even or under-par on the young season.

Senior Brett Stegmaier (Madison, Conn.) had the shot of the day with a 110-yard approach shot on the third hole that dropped into the cup for an eagle. Stegmaier finished with a 71 (-1) and is tied for ninth. Senior Matt Every (Daytona Beach, Fla.) rounded out the Florida lineup by firing a 70 (-2) to finish the first round tied for fifth.       

Louisiana State and Kentucky each recorded team scores of 286 (-2) to tie for second place. Toledo was the only other team to finish under-par with 287 (-1). The teams are currently in the middle of the second round.

TEAM RESULTS                             

TOP-10 INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

FLORIDA RESULTS

-UF-