Florida Begins Regionals Monday

Monday, May 13

West Lafayette, Ind. / Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex: Kampen-Cosler Course

8 a.m. (18 Holes)

Florida Gators

NCAA Regionals

John DuBois sets up his putt, which he made for a crucial birdie on 17 at the NCAA Bath Regional last year at Eagle Eye Golf Club. Photo by: Matt Mitchell

Florida Begins Regionals Monday

Saturday, May 11, 2024 | Men's Golf

Live Scoring

The Gators are the No. 3 seed at the West Lafayette Regional.

By: Matthew Hutchison

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Dates: Monday, May 13 - Wednesday, May 15
Location: West Lafayette, Ind. - Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex: Kampen-Cosler Course
Host: Purdue University
Course Par/Yardage: 72 / 7,461 yards
Format: 54-hole stroke play (18-18-18)
Tee Times: 8 a.m. on Monday and TBA other days
Scoring: Golf Stat
Social Media: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

TEE OFF
The No. 15 Florida men's golf team heads to the NCAA West Lafayette Regional as the three-seed, beginning play on Monday.

LINEUP
No. 1 - Ian Gilligan
No. 2 - Matthew Kress
No. 3 - Jack Turner
No. 4 - Parker Bell
No. 5 - John DuBois
Alternate - Quentin Debove

FORMAT
The three-day event will consist of 54 holes (18 each day) that starts on Monday, May 13 at Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex at the Kampen-Cosler Course hosted by Purdue in West Lafayette, Ind. At the conclusion of play, the top five teams as well as the low individual finisher not on an advancing team will advance to the NCAA Championship at Omni La Costa (Champions Course) in Carlsbad, Calif. from May 24-29. It will be the first of three years the finals are taking play at Omni La Costa, which will be hosted by the University of Texas.

A total of 81 teams and 45 individuals (not on a competing team) will play across six regional hosts - LSU, North Carolina, Purdue, San Diego, Stanford and Texas. Three regional sites will have 13 teams and 10 individuals and three will have 14 teams and five individuals.

Florida looks to make its 57th NCAA Championship appearance and has only missed qualifying twice under head coach J.C. Deacon. UF has made the championship in 18 of the last 20 tournaments as its 56 all-time outings at nationals rank fifth most in the nation behind Oklahoma State (74), Texas (67), USC (58) and Arizona State (58).

COMPETING TEAMS (Seed Number)
No. 1 Vanderbilt, No. 2 Arizona, No. 3 Florida, No. 4 New Mexico, No. 5 Purdue (host), No. 6 San Diego State, No. 7 Mississippi State, No. 8 Indiana, No. 9 College of Charleston, No. 10 Stetson, No. 11 Colorado State, No. 12 Southern Illinois and No. 13 Tennessee Tech

COMPETING INDIVIDUALS (By Seed)
1. Caleb VanArragon (Valparaiso), 2. Hunter Thomson (Michigan), 3. Cameron Huss (Wisconsin), 4. Barend Botha (Toledo), 5. Valentin Peugnet (Illinois State), 6. Owen Stamper (Middle Tennessee), 7. Alex McCulla (Illinois State), 8. Ty Gingerich (Cincinnati), 9. Luke Fuller (Western Kentucky) and 10. Ben Ortwein (Rider)

TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The Gators have qualified for 34 of the 35 all-time men's golf regionals and every year under J.C. Deacon as Florida won the inaugural East Regional (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) in 1989. UF has claimed a total of six team titles (1989, 1992, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2018) and six individual titles - Brain Gay (1993), Brad Lehmann (1994), Camilo Villegas (2001), Billy Horschel (2006 & 2007) and Andy Zhang (2018).

This marks the fourth straight year the Gators have been a top-3 seed in regionals and the seventh time with Deacon at the helm.

BEEN THERE BEFORE
Last year in the NCAA Bath Regional in East Lansing, Mich., Florida erased a seven-shot deficit behind an 8-under final round to finish 4th and make the NCAA National Championship cut. The Gators chased a top-5 spot of the championship cut the first two days and entered the final round seven back from host Michigan State. When Florida teed off 25 minutes after the Spartans, the chase was nine strokes. At the end of 54-holes, Florida finished 4th at 12-under and a five-shot cushion.

A trio of rounds in the 60s from Yuxin Lin (66, -5) Ricky Castillo (69, -2) and John DuBois (69, -2) led UF to the best round among the field today by five shots with a 276 (-8).

Florida made its climb with early birdies from Castillo and Lin, who both finished T11. The Gators jumped above the cut line and were -5 on the day thru holes 3-6. Lin led the lineup in a 3-under front nine with three birdies in the first hour holes. The advantage increased as UF posted four total birdies on hole four (par-5, 591).

The drama of the final day and the 'red line' that is featured on Golfstat, showing the top-5 teams advancing, took place as Florida made the turn with a one-shot lead in 5th over Kansas State. The Wildcats started the day tied for 6th with the Gators heading to the front after starting on the back. Scores showed the back was challenging in round three at Eagle Eye Club with all six teams to start there not breaking par and shooting an average of +4.5. Compared to three of the six going under par on the front nine, led by Illinois (-5), Florida (-3) and Liberty (-3).

Immediately at the turn, K-State started to push back ahead and Florida dropped to 7th, four shots out of contention.

A string of birdies moved UF back up the leaderboard beginning with a pair from Castillo and Matthew Kress. It was another postseason moment for John DuBois, who made a birdie on 14 to tie it and went bogey-free on the back to card a 69 (-2). A massive birdie on 17 saw him make a seven-shot improvement from yesterday. He fought all the way back after two bogeys in the first three holes to place T35.

As the season was on the line, Kansas State and Florida continued to battle for the advancing spot, both remaining tied throughout the latter part of the final round.

It was the upperclassmen the led the final push from Castillo and Lin combing for -4 on holes 12-16. Lin's three consecutive birdies on 14-16 (two par-4s and a par-5) gave the Gators a four-shot lead. Kansas State brought it back to two shots with three late birdies in their final few holes, but the Gators held on closing out -2 in the last eight counting holes (17-18).

EXPERIENCE HERE
After entering last week's SEC Championship with only two players having played in the event, the Gators enter with more experience at NCAA Regionals. John DuBois (6 rounds), Ian Gilligan (3), Matthew Kress (3) and Quentin Debove (1). Only two players are making their first-career starts in sophomore Parker Bell and freshman Jack Turner, both who were in the lineup for the SEC Championship.

WEST LAFAYETTE (FORGETTABLE) MEMORIES
The Gators look for a better visit in their second appearance at an NCAA Regional in West Lafayette. In 2017, Florida was the No. 1 seed and failed to advance, finishing in 8th after a disappointing final team round of 24-over 312.

LAST TIME OUT
Florida concluded the first step of the postseason last week at the SEC Championship. The Gators reached match play for the third consecutive season after finishing 10-under and in 6th in stroke play.

UF was led by true freshman Jack Turner, who posted a team-best T2 finish in his first conference tournament start. The performance ties the second-best finish by a Gator true freshman at the SEC Championship with Camilo Villegas, who placed T2 in 2001. That year the Gators won the SEC and National Team and Individual Championships just like last year.

Vanderbilt and Florida meet for third straight season in match play SEC Championship with the Commodores edging out the Gators 3-2 in extra holes in the quarterfinals.

DOMINANT SPRING
After a shaky fall, the Gators responded with five wins in the spring to total six on the season. Florida recorded consecutive seasons with six wins for the first time since 1973-74 and 1974-75. UF ended the spring portion of the season with five tournament wins and a 4th place finish at the Southern Highlands Collegiate, that featured Ian Gilligan winning medalist honors and earning an exemption into the PGA Tour's 2024 Shriners Open in October.

The Orange and Blue have now claimed 27 team titles under head coach J.C. Deacon in 10 seasons. This is the seventh season under Deacon UF has won multiple tournaments in a year and fourth of three-plus. Six tournament wins in a season is tied for the most under Deacon, which came last season and included an SEC and National Championship.

Of the last six regular season rounds, Florida has held the team lead and continued this week for a six-shot victory at Calusa Pines Golf Club. In the four stroke play tournament wins this spring, the Gators won by a combined 28 strokes. UF won the Pablo Collegiate Cup over Jacksonville 6-1 to start the spring season.

GILLY BELONGS
After transferring from Long Beach State prior to the season, Ian Gilligan has proven he belongs on the big stage and in the SEC. The junior was named to the All-SEC Second Team and two-time SEC Golfer of the Week, and earned GCAA/SWING U Golfer of the Month for February. He was also named to Team USA for the 2024 Arnold Palmer Cup. He won his first tournament as a Gator and fifth collegiate at the Southern Highlands Collegiate this spring, earning him an exemption into the PGA Tour's Shriners Open. In his SEC Championship debut, Gilligan won his quarterfinal matchup in 20 holes vs. Gordon Sargeant of Vanderbilt.

A native of Reno, N.V., Gilligan began the spring portion with finishes of 2-3-1 and a stretch of 12 consecutive rounds of par or better, including six straight in the 60s. In his first Gators Invitational start, he tied the program record for round (by score) with a 62. His stroke average of 70.8 is tied for second on the team as he also tied for the team-leading three top-5, five top-10, and leads with nine top-25 finishes. In 30 rounds this season, 27 have counted, 18 for par or better, 10 in the 60's, 115 made birdies and a team-best six eagles.

BUILDING A NAME, MR. TURNER
Leading Florida in stroke average with a mark of 70.5, Turner has put together a strong rookie campaign and was tabbed to the SEC All-Freshman team.

After finishing T78 in his collegiate debut, he has placed T14 or better in six tournaments, including two runner-up finishes and solo third. The Orlando, Fla. native is tied for the team-high in top-10 (5) finishes and par or better tournaments (5). In 20 rounds, 13 have been for par or better. He also is 2-0 in match play.

A two-time SEC Golfer of the Week, the freshman was in the No. 3 spot for the SEC Championship. He recorded a T2 performance, which tied the second-best finish by a Gator true freshman at the SEC Championship with Camilo Villegas, who placed T2 in 2001. He shot an opening round of 2-under 68 and followed up with a bogey-free 5-under 65 in round two to produce a 54-hole score of 204 (-6). In match play vs. Vanderbilt, Turner found himself down two with three holes remaining and brought the match all squared heading to the final hole of regulation and won 1-up over senior Cole Sherwood.

FALL RECAP
UF highlighted the first half of the season with the victory at the Georgetown Intercollegiate with a 17-shot victory behind Matthew Kress' first collegiate victory and the 22nd all-time under head coach J.C. Deacon.

Kress leads the team in stroke average (70.8) followed behind transfer Ian Gilligan, who are both tied for a team-best four top-25 finishes out of five fall tournaments.

PROMOTED
Prior to the 2023-24 season getting underway, head coach J.C. Deacon announced the promotion of Gator Great and assistant coach Dudley Hart to Associate Head Coach.

Hart was also named an assistant coach for Team USA at the 2024 Arnold Palmer Cup this summer at Lahinch Golf Club in Lahinch, Ireland from July 5-7 where he will coach Ian Gilligan and Florida women's golfer Maisie Filler. This marks the fourth in the last five events that Florida will be represented at event.

NEW GATORS
Florida welcomed three newcomers this season in freshmen Rylan Shim (Centreville, Virginia), and Jack Turner (Orlando, Fla.) and All-American transfer Ian Gilligan (Reno, N.V.)

THE CHAMP RETURNS
Following the national championship victory, senior John DuBois announced his return for his 5th year.

DuBois finished undefeated (3-0) in match play at the NCAA National Championship, including winning his semifinals and finals matches 1Up with victories on 18. He also finished T18 in the stroke play portion with rounds of 70-70-69-72 for a 1-over 281.

A postseason hero, DuBois secured the match-clinching point for Florida's first SEC Championship in 12 years vs. No. 1 Vanderbilt behind his 15-foot par putt. The senior was 3-down multiple times, including through 11 holes. He went 2-1 in match play and owns a career record of 7-2 in postseason match play (SECs and NCAAs).

A PING All-American selection this year, he won the 2022 SEC Individual Championship for his first collegiate win. Unranked by Golfstat at the time, he defeated the No. 1, 2, 8, 12, 13 and 17 ranked players. He became the 25th Gator to win the conference individual title, the most by any SEC school with his first of multiple clutch shots on 18 at Sea Island Golf Club.

DuBois also sent Florida to the SEC Championship Match Play Finals for the first time in program history last year with the match-clinching victory in extra holes (19) after he teed off the 18th hole 1-down.

At the 2023 NCAA Bath Regional, DuBois helped the Gators overcome a seven-shot deficit with a final round of 1-under 69.

HISTORIC SEASON REWIND
It was a historic season for the Gators in 2022-23 that led to the program's fifth National Championship and 16th SEC Championship.

Florida captured a national title for the first time in 22 years last week as the Gators swept NCAAs with Fred Biondi winning the NCAA Individual Championship. It was the third UF golfer (Nick Gilliam 2001, Bob Murphy 1966) to achieve the honor and second time in 30 years the program swept both titles. Florida is one of seven schools to achieve the mark twice. The Gators won the NCAA team title, individual title and conference title in the same season for the first time in program history.

Head Coach J.C. Deacon was tabbed both the SEC and National Coach of the Year for the first time in his career as assistant coach Dudley Hart earned National Assistant Coach of the Year. It was the first time in history that UF won both awards in the same season.

UF reached match play at nationals for the first time in program history after playing in the fourth round of stroke play for the fifth time overall. Florida finished stroke play in 2nd with a score of 1118 (-2), its lowest all-time at Grayhawk and first under par team score at the NCAAs since 2006. The 1,118 was the lowest round score at the National Championships in program history. A final round of 279 (-1) marks the third consecutive under round after back-to-back 2-under 278s in round two and three. The 2-under performance by UF is the best round at the NCAA Championships since the opening round in 2007.

Florida made its 56th NCAA Championship appearance this year, ranking fifth most in the country after a third-round comeback at Bath Regional saw Florida erase a seven-shot deficit led by a trio of rounds in the 60s by Yuxin Lin (66, -5), John DuBois (69, -2) and Ricky Castillo (69, -2).

The Gators won the SEC Championship title for the first time in 12 years. The Gators got revenge and defeated No. 1 Vanderbilt 3-1-1 at Sea Island after falling 3-2 in 2022. Senior John DuBois, the 2022 SEC Individual Champion, sank a 15-footer for the match-clinching point.

Florida claimed six team titles and six individual titles this season, the most since seven in 2003-04 as it was the sixth time the Gators have won at least six events in a season. The six medalist honors tied the program record in a season and only the third time in Florida history, the others were in 1989-90 and 2010-11.

Prior to the postseason, the Orange and Blue won four regular season tournaments, including the season opener and finale. At the Augusta Haskins Award Invite, Florida finished 39-under par, to tie second all-time in program history by par and only three shots away from the record (-42). At the Gators Invitational, Florida won its home event for the fourth straight year the 29th time overall in the tournament's 46th occurrence.

Four golfers (Fred Biondi, Ricky Castillo, John DuBois and Yuxin Lin) all earned PING All-American honors, tied for the most selections by a school this year and tied the Florida record. It was the seventh time the Gators had four selections with the last time being in 2006. Biondi, Castillo, Lin and Quentin Debove were also selected to the PING All-Region Team. The trio of Biondi, Castillo and Lin collected All-SEC honors with Matthew Kress collecting freshman team recognition.

Success was also obtained off the course with Biondi, DuBois and Quentin Debove being named GCCA All-American Scholars, which marked the third consecutive years with multiple honorees under Deacon and most selections in a single season in program history.

THE TURN
It will be the first of three years that the NCAA Championships are taking play at Omni La Costa (Champions Course), which will be hosted by the University of Texas.