The No. 4 Florida Men’s Golf team rebounded from a slow start at the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate by recording a team score of 289 (+1) on Monday. The Gators moved up to seventh-place and find themselves trailing UCLA by 15 strokes for the lead heading into the final round.

Senior Brett Stegmaier (Madison, Conn.) set the pace for the comeback by shooting an even-par 72 during the second round. Stegmaier started his round on the back-nine and recorded birdies on the 10th and 13th holes. He then saved par on seven consecutive holes before making bogey on three of the last eight to finish even on the day. Stegmaier leads the Gators with a total score of 150 (+6), which puts him in a tie for seventh.   

Senior Matt Every (Daytona Beach, Fla.) also rebounded well by recording a team-best 71 (-1). Every has carded a score of par-or-under in 10 of his 14 rounds played so far this season and is currently tied for 25th.

Freshmen Billy Horschel (Grant, Fla.) and Toby Ragland (Jacksonville, Fla.) both turned in solid performances for the Gators. Horschel made four birdies, including one on the par-five eighth hole to finish at 73 (+1). Ragland recorded a pair of birdies on the front-nine to finish the day at 73 (+1).

Sophomore Manuel Villegas (Medellin, Columbia) finds himself tied for 62nd-place after recording an 80 (+8) on Monday. Sophomore Jessie Mudd (Louisville, Ky.) lowered his first round score by five strokes after by carding an 80 (+8). Mudd is playing the tournament as an individual.

Florida caught a break by playing its round early on Monday morning at the Sawgrass C.C.. The wind that caused the Gators problems on Sunday was not a factor during the second round. The Gators leaped over eight teams as a result of higher scores during the later rounds.

“It’s not really about what other people do,” Florida head coach Buddy Alexander said. “It’s just about us playing better than what we did yesterday. Things happen in golf and people have a bad day. You know that these guys have pride and will do whatever it takes to get back in it.

The final round of the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Complete results can be found at www.gatorzone.com or by following live stats at www.golfstat.com.

Team Results

Top 10 Players

Florida Results