Monday, January 30
Jacksonville, Fla. / TPC Sawgrass
8 a.m. (36 Holes)
Florida Gators
at
Sea Best Invitational
No. 9 Florida Begins Spring Slate at Sea Best Invitational
Friday, January 27, 2023 | Men's Golf
The two-day tournament starts on Monday (Jan. 30) at TPC Sawgrass.
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Dates: Monday, Jan. 30 - Tuesday, Jan. 31
Location: Jacksonville, Fla. - TPC Sawgrass (Dye's Valley Course)
Host: Jacksonville University
Course Par/Yardage: 70 / 6,790 yards
Format: 36 holes on Monday and 18 on Tuesday
Tee Times: 8 a.m. on Monday and TBD on Tuesday
Scoring: Golf Stat
Social Media: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
TEE OFF
The No. 9 Florida men's golf team tees off the spring season at the Sea Best Invitational on Monday (Jan. 30), a tournament the Gators have captured success.
LINEUP
No. 1 - Fred Biondi
No. 2 - Yuxin Lin
No. 3 - Ricky Castillo
No. 4 - John DuBois
No. 5 - Tyler Wilkes
Indv. - Parker Bell
Indv. - Ryan Hart
Indv. - Matthew Kress
Indv. - Miguel Leal
Indv. - Giovanni Manzoni
COMPETING TEAMS
Campbell, Charleston, Florida Atlantic, Florida Golf Coast, Jacksonville (host), Liberty, Lipscomb, Louisville, North Florida, USC-Upstate and UT-San Antonio.
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Florida has dominated the Sea Best Invitational, winning the tournament back-to-back seasons (2010-11 & 2011-12) in the team's first two outings. The Gators won the event consecutive times again in the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons followed by a third-place finish the next season (2017-18) and runner-up in 2019-20.
Last season, the Gators won the spring opener for the fifth time in program history and third under head coach J.C. Deacon. The victory started back-to-back team wins and a booming spring that featured top-10 finishes in the next eigh tournaments.
IN THE RANKINGS
The Gators start the spring ranked No. 9 in Golfstat and No. 12 in Golfweek.
LAST TIME OUT
A runner-up finish at the Isleworth Collegiate wrapped up the fall slate, highlighted by a team win in the season opener and the first of two runner-up finishes. All four Gators in the lineup finished in the Top-25 as they entered 13 strokes back from the lead on the final day and cut it to three strokes and finished 15-under.
A SEASON AGO
After a bumpy start early in the fall, the Gators concluded with a top-5 finish at Isleworth which carried momentum into the spring with back-to-back victories to start. The latter included winning the VyStar Gators Invitational for the 28th time and third consecutive en route to Fred Biondi tying the tournament record at 196 (-14) for his first career collegiate title.
The spring featured eight straight top-5 finishes with a runner-up performance at the SEC Championship and advancing to the match play finals for the first time in program history. John DuBois laid claim to the SEC Individual Championship for his first collegiate victory.
Florida secured its 32nd NCAA Regional bid and took a third place finish to advance its 55th appearance in the National Championships. On day three of stroke play, the Gators used late birdies on the back nine to make the first cut. UF concluded the season with a 10th place finish and only seven strokes from making match play. The finish marked the highest under head coach J.C. Deacon and best since a 9th place performance in 2007.
TOUR U
Following a breakout season, Fred Biondi earned the No. 1 ranking in the preseason PGA TOUR University Velocity Global Class of 2023 Rankings as a total of four Gators placed in the top-25. The next three Florida golfers were ranked in consecutive order with Ricky Castillo (No. 19), John DuBois (No. 20) and Yuxin Lin (No. 21) as the four selections were the most of any school as both North Carolina and Pepperdine had three.
Currently, Biondi holds the No. 3 spot with Yuxin Lin at No. 17, Ricky Castillo No. 20 and John DuBois rounds out at No. 24. Florida is the only school with four players ranked in the top-25.
PRESEASON NODS
Prior to the start of their senior seasons, Fred Biondi and Ricky Castillo were named to the Preseason Haskins Award Watch List. The award is considered the most prestigious award in collegiate golf, and is presented annually to the most outstanding male golfer.
THE CHAMP
Winning his first collegiate title, John DuBois became the 25th Gator to win the SEC Individual Championship, which is the most by any school in the conference. He tied for the third-lowest round (64, -6) in SEC history as concluded the stroke play portion of the tournament setting career lows in round (64), tournament score (204) and best finish (1).
The native of Windermere, Fla., followed his historic performance by sending the Florida men's golf team to the SEC Championship Finals with his victory on the playoff hole in the semifinals vs. No. 1 Texas A&M. He teed off the 18th 1-down and won the hole to force extras. DuBois nearly eagled the hole (565 yards, par 5) as he two putted from seven feet for another memorable moment. The junior went 2-1 in the match play portion of the SEC Championship as he played in all 27 rounds for the first time in his career.
ROOKIE GATORS
Florida welcomed four newcomers this season in Parker Bell (Tallahassee, Fla.), Toby Bishop (Wales, United Kingdom), Will McGriff (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) and Luke Poulter (Orlando, Fla.).
GATOR GREAT COACHES
Last fall, head coach J.C. Deacon announced the addition of Dudley Hart as the next assistant coach. The Gator Great spent the last four seasons as the volunteer assistant coach. He was four-time All American, the 1987 SEC Freshman of the Year and a two-time PGA Tour winner.
To start last spring, Deacon again took the program to another level with the addition of Gator Great and former FedEx Cup Champion, Billy Horschel, as a volunteer assistant coach. He was a four-year (2006-09) member of the Gator golf team, three-time (2006-07, 2009) first-team All-American and two-time (2007 & 2009) SEC Player of the Year with over 280 professional outings.
THE TURN
The Orange and Blue aim to defend its home course at the VyStar Credit Union Gators Invitational at Mark Bostick Golf Course from Feb. 11-12.
Dates: Monday, Jan. 30 - Tuesday, Jan. 31
Location: Jacksonville, Fla. - TPC Sawgrass (Dye's Valley Course)
Host: Jacksonville University
Course Par/Yardage: 70 / 6,790 yards
Format: 36 holes on Monday and 18 on Tuesday
Tee Times: 8 a.m. on Monday and TBD on Tuesday
Scoring: Golf Stat
Social Media: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
TEE OFF
The No. 9 Florida men's golf team tees off the spring season at the Sea Best Invitational on Monday (Jan. 30), a tournament the Gators have captured success.
LINEUP
No. 1 - Fred Biondi
No. 2 - Yuxin Lin
No. 3 - Ricky Castillo
No. 4 - John DuBois
No. 5 - Tyler Wilkes
Indv. - Parker Bell
Indv. - Ryan Hart
Indv. - Matthew Kress
Indv. - Miguel Leal
Indv. - Giovanni Manzoni
COMPETING TEAMS
Campbell, Charleston, Florida Atlantic, Florida Golf Coast, Jacksonville (host), Liberty, Lipscomb, Louisville, North Florida, USC-Upstate and UT-San Antonio.
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Florida has dominated the Sea Best Invitational, winning the tournament back-to-back seasons (2010-11 & 2011-12) in the team's first two outings. The Gators won the event consecutive times again in the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons followed by a third-place finish the next season (2017-18) and runner-up in 2019-20.
Last season, the Gators won the spring opener for the fifth time in program history and third under head coach J.C. Deacon. The victory started back-to-back team wins and a booming spring that featured top-10 finishes in the next eigh tournaments.
IN THE RANKINGS
The Gators start the spring ranked No. 9 in Golfstat and No. 12 in Golfweek.
LAST TIME OUT
A runner-up finish at the Isleworth Collegiate wrapped up the fall slate, highlighted by a team win in the season opener and the first of two runner-up finishes. All four Gators in the lineup finished in the Top-25 as they entered 13 strokes back from the lead on the final day and cut it to three strokes and finished 15-under.
A SEASON AGO
After a bumpy start early in the fall, the Gators concluded with a top-5 finish at Isleworth which carried momentum into the spring with back-to-back victories to start. The latter included winning the VyStar Gators Invitational for the 28th time and third consecutive en route to Fred Biondi tying the tournament record at 196 (-14) for his first career collegiate title.
The spring featured eight straight top-5 finishes with a runner-up performance at the SEC Championship and advancing to the match play finals for the first time in program history. John DuBois laid claim to the SEC Individual Championship for his first collegiate victory.
Florida secured its 32nd NCAA Regional bid and took a third place finish to advance its 55th appearance in the National Championships. On day three of stroke play, the Gators used late birdies on the back nine to make the first cut. UF concluded the season with a 10th place finish and only seven strokes from making match play. The finish marked the highest under head coach J.C. Deacon and best since a 9th place performance in 2007.
TOUR U
Following a breakout season, Fred Biondi earned the No. 1 ranking in the preseason PGA TOUR University Velocity Global Class of 2023 Rankings as a total of four Gators placed in the top-25. The next three Florida golfers were ranked in consecutive order with Ricky Castillo (No. 19), John DuBois (No. 20) and Yuxin Lin (No. 21) as the four selections were the most of any school as both North Carolina and Pepperdine had three.
Currently, Biondi holds the No. 3 spot with Yuxin Lin at No. 17, Ricky Castillo No. 20 and John DuBois rounds out at No. 24. Florida is the only school with four players ranked in the top-25.
PRESEASON NODS
Prior to the start of their senior seasons, Fred Biondi and Ricky Castillo were named to the Preseason Haskins Award Watch List. The award is considered the most prestigious award in collegiate golf, and is presented annually to the most outstanding male golfer.
THE CHAMP
Winning his first collegiate title, John DuBois became the 25th Gator to win the SEC Individual Championship, which is the most by any school in the conference. He tied for the third-lowest round (64, -6) in SEC history as concluded the stroke play portion of the tournament setting career lows in round (64), tournament score (204) and best finish (1).
The native of Windermere, Fla., followed his historic performance by sending the Florida men's golf team to the SEC Championship Finals with his victory on the playoff hole in the semifinals vs. No. 1 Texas A&M. He teed off the 18th 1-down and won the hole to force extras. DuBois nearly eagled the hole (565 yards, par 5) as he two putted from seven feet for another memorable moment. The junior went 2-1 in the match play portion of the SEC Championship as he played in all 27 rounds for the first time in his career.
ROOKIE GATORS
Florida welcomed four newcomers this season in Parker Bell (Tallahassee, Fla.), Toby Bishop (Wales, United Kingdom), Will McGriff (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) and Luke Poulter (Orlando, Fla.).
GATOR GREAT COACHES
Last fall, head coach J.C. Deacon announced the addition of Dudley Hart as the next assistant coach. The Gator Great spent the last four seasons as the volunteer assistant coach. He was four-time All American, the 1987 SEC Freshman of the Year and a two-time PGA Tour winner.
To start last spring, Deacon again took the program to another level with the addition of Gator Great and former FedEx Cup Champion, Billy Horschel, as a volunteer assistant coach. He was a four-year (2006-09) member of the Gator golf team, three-time (2006-07, 2009) first-team All-American and two-time (2007 & 2009) SEC Player of the Year with over 280 professional outings.
THE TURN
The Orange and Blue aim to defend its home course at the VyStar Credit Union Gators Invitational at Mark Bostick Golf Course from Feb. 11-12.
Players Mentioned
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