No. 6 UF Men's Golf Seeking Strong Finish at SEC Championship This Weekend
Friday, April 17, 2009 | Men's Golf
The sixth-ranked University of Florida men's golf team, coming off a disappointing finish at the U.S. Collegiate Championship, opens postseason play this weekend, April 17-19, at the Southeastern Conference Championship in Sea Island, Ga.
The 54-hole event features 18 holes on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Tee times begin at 8 a.m. ET. Live scoring can be found HERE.
The par-72 Frederica Golf Club will be playing host to the event for the second time. The 7,217-yard Tom Fazio layout is one of the longest courses the Gators have played this season.
Seven of the nation's top 25 teams take to the elevated layout this weekend in what could be the nation's most competitive conference tournament. The nation's top-ranked team, Georgia, headlines the field. Florida is ranked sixth and Alabama is eighth. Also ranked are South Carolina (11), Tennessee (14), Arkansas (21) and LSU (25).
Four of Florida's five players have SEC Championship experience. Senior Billy Horschel (Grant, Fla.), the SEC's leader in stroke average at 71.48, finished tied for seventh at last year's tournament. Junior Tim McKenney (Scottsdale, Ariz.) played in the tournament as a freshman and tied for 33rd.
Senior Toby Ragland (Jacksonville, Fla.) is making his fourth appearance at the SEC Championships. His best finish was in 2006 as a freshman, when he tied for 14th. Junior Tyson Alexander (Gainesville, Fla.) will be playing in his third straight SEC Championship, post a 25th place finish last year. Senior Will Strickler (Charlottesville, Va.) is making his first trip to SECs. Earlier this year Strickler claimed his first collegiate win at the Golden Ocala Collegiate.
Florida is seeking its 15th SEC Championship title and first since 2003. The Gators' 14 conference crowns represent the third-highest total in league history and trail only Georgia (26) and LSU (15). Florida placed fourth last year with a 54-hole total of 8-over 872. Alabama won the league title last year by eight shots at 11-under 853.
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