Saturday, April 25
St. Simons Island, Ga. / Sea Island Golf Club: Seaside Course
2 p.m. (Match Play) | Semifinals
Florida Gators
vs
Texas
Jack Turner celebrates with head coach J.C. Deacon after winning the match-clinching point in the SEC Championship Semifinals.
Turner on 17th again, Gators to face Ole Miss in SEC Championship Finals
Saturday, April 25, 2026 | Men's Golf
For the second straight year, Jack Turner secured the match-clinching point in the semifinals as Florida looks to capture back-to-back conference titles.
ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – The Florida men's golf team will play for the SEC Championship Title after defeating No. 3-seed Texas 3.5-1.5 in the conference tournament semifinals on Saturday at Sea Island Golf Club. Florida faces No. 4-seed Ole Miss at 8 a.m. with live coverage on SEC Network and look to capture back-to-back conference titles for the first time since 1993-94.
Florida moves to 2-0 all-time vs. the Longhorns in postseason match play, having met at 2025 NCAA National Championship Semifinals where the Gators won 3-2. Counting the victory over Oklahoma in the quarterfinals, the Gators are 4-0 in postseason play vs. the conference newcomers. UF also moves to 4-2 in the semifinals, dropping its last final-four outing in 2018 vs. Alabama. Also, the 12th win at the SEC Championship is second all-time and now only one back of leader Vanderbilt (13).
The Rebels reached a spot in the finals for the first time after upsetting No. 1-seed and No. 1-ranked Auburn 3-2. Ole Miss and Florida squared off earlier this season at the Eat Lake Cup, a 3-2 victory for the Gators en route to the tournament title. This marks the third meeting at the SEC Championship and first appearance in the finals as the prior two were both in the quarterfinals (2023 UF 4, UM 1 & 2028 UF 3, UM 2).
The Gators earn a spot in the match play finals for the third time in four years, which ranks second all-time in the conference during a four-year stretch, only Vanderbilt has accomplished the feat with reaching the finals four straight years.
A victory in the match play finals would be only the second time a program (Vanderbilt 2021-22) has won back-to-back SEC titles in the match play era as it would also be the Gators third conference title in four years.
As the first three matches made the turn, No. 2-seed Florida and No. 3-seed Texas were tied at 2.5-a-piece as Zack Swanwick was 1Up (thru 10), Parker Sands 3Up (thru 9) and Matthew Kress tied (thru 8). Once again, at the turn and early into the second nine Florida began to take control of the match as they led 3-2 with Swanwick 2Up (thru 13) and Sands 3Up (thru 11) while Jack Turner battled back from 2Down (thru 8) and was tied at the turn after winning back-to-back holes highlighted by finding his ball in the rough with 30-seconds reaming in the allotted time by a patron.
It was the first out that grabbed the first point for the Gators. Swanwick's eagle on the par5 15th moved him 3Up with three to play and his par on next hole secured the 3&2 victory. After Texas tied it 1-1 with a 4&3 win of Christiaan Maas, Parker Sands quickly responded with his second win of the day, 4&3.
The final two matches left at the Seaside Course, UF controlled both as Kress was 1Up with three to play behind his birdie on the 15th and Turner 3Up with five to play with his birdie on the 13th. Both Kress and Turner each tied their next hole, it setup a clinching finish on either the 16th (Turner) or 17th green (Kress) that but up against each other. Kress pared on the par3 17th and headed to the 18th 1Up.
All the attention turned to the 17th green for the second straight year in the semifinals for the Orange and Blue faithful as Turner dropped the 16th hole and was 2Up with two to play. Both himself and his opponent Tommy Morrison each landed their tee shot on the green. Morrison need to make birdie and missed as Turner pushed it up as both conceded for pars and a 2&1 victory for Turner. This marks the back-to-back seasons the junior sent Florida into the championship finals on the 17th after he defeated the now three-time SEC Individual Champion and No. 1-ranked amateur Jackson Koivun.
Kress dropped the 18th hole and was tied at the time and goes as tied for the final score. Tomorrow he will play in his third SEC Championship Finals and 10th match at the conference tournament.
The Gators look to claim its 18th SEC Championship Title, which is second all-time behind Georgia (29), who hasn't won a title in 10 years. Florida also wins it three conference championship in four years.
A victory would be the seventh time in program history Florida won back-to-back SEC Team Championships – 1955-56, 1973-74, 1974-75, 1991-92, 1992-93 and 1993-94. The seven consecutive victories are second-most all-time – UGA leads with 15.
A win would also be the third conference title in the match play era (2017-present), tied for the most with Auburn and Vanderbilt. Neither the Commodores or Tigers won their three titles in a shorter stretch compared to the Gators. Overall, the last time a school won three conference championships in a four-year span was Alabama, who won three straight from 2012-14 and featured PGA TOUR pro Justin Thomas..
Post Round Quotes - Head Coach J.C. Deacon
On his team's performance this week...
"They just continue to impress. It's amazing what these guys do. That that Texas team is so good, and I knew it was going to take our best golf to get three points. I am so proud of the opportunity they have tomorrow, but the job is not done. We got a great Ole Miss team waiting now for and we're going to have to play even better tomorrow."
On Parker Sands this week after being the sub here last season...
"It's funny. I told his dad, Mike Sands last year that all of our six men that we'd had here at SECs had found a way to make the team the next year. He reminded me of that when we got here this week. We have thrown everything at him. It's been really difficult for him to get in the lineup, but he earned it, and he's making great with this opportunity. It's pretty amazing was Parker is doing."
SEC Championship Finals - No. 2 Florida vs. No. 4 Ole Miss
8 a.m. – Zack Swanwick vs. Tom Fischer
8:10 a.m. – Luke Poulter vs. Daniel Tolf
8:20 a.m. – Parker Sands vs. Cameron Tankersley
8:30 a.m. – Matthew Kress vs. Collins Trolio
8:40 a.m. – Jack Turner vs. Cohen Trolio
SEC Championship Semifinals - No. 2 Florida (3.5) vs. No. 3 Texas (1.5)
Zack Swanwick 3&2 over Daniel Bennett
Christiaan Maas 4&3 over Christaan Maas
Parker Sands 4&3 over Luke Potter
Matthew Kress TIED Matt Comegys (Through 18 holes)
Jack Turner 2&1 over Tommy Morrison
SEC Championship Match Play Bracket
No. 4 Ole Miss 3-2 over No. 1 Auburn
No. 2 Florida 3.5-1.5 over No. 3 Texas
Florida moves to 2-0 all-time vs. the Longhorns in postseason match play, having met at 2025 NCAA National Championship Semifinals where the Gators won 3-2. Counting the victory over Oklahoma in the quarterfinals, the Gators are 4-0 in postseason play vs. the conference newcomers. UF also moves to 4-2 in the semifinals, dropping its last final-four outing in 2018 vs. Alabama. Also, the 12th win at the SEC Championship is second all-time and now only one back of leader Vanderbilt (13).
The Rebels reached a spot in the finals for the first time after upsetting No. 1-seed and No. 1-ranked Auburn 3-2. Ole Miss and Florida squared off earlier this season at the Eat Lake Cup, a 3-2 victory for the Gators en route to the tournament title. This marks the third meeting at the SEC Championship and first appearance in the finals as the prior two were both in the quarterfinals (2023 UF 4, UM 1 & 2028 UF 3, UM 2).
The Gators earn a spot in the match play finals for the third time in four years, which ranks second all-time in the conference during a four-year stretch, only Vanderbilt has accomplished the feat with reaching the finals four straight years.
A victory in the match play finals would be only the second time a program (Vanderbilt 2021-22) has won back-to-back SEC titles in the match play era as it would also be the Gators third conference title in four years.
As the first three matches made the turn, No. 2-seed Florida and No. 3-seed Texas were tied at 2.5-a-piece as Zack Swanwick was 1Up (thru 10), Parker Sands 3Up (thru 9) and Matthew Kress tied (thru 8). Once again, at the turn and early into the second nine Florida began to take control of the match as they led 3-2 with Swanwick 2Up (thru 13) and Sands 3Up (thru 11) while Jack Turner battled back from 2Down (thru 8) and was tied at the turn after winning back-to-back holes highlighted by finding his ball in the rough with 30-seconds reaming in the allotted time by a patron.
It was the first out that grabbed the first point for the Gators. Swanwick's eagle on the par5 15th moved him 3Up with three to play and his par on next hole secured the 3&2 victory. After Texas tied it 1-1 with a 4&3 win of Christiaan Maas, Parker Sands quickly responded with his second win of the day, 4&3.
The final two matches left at the Seaside Course, UF controlled both as Kress was 1Up with three to play behind his birdie on the 15th and Turner 3Up with five to play with his birdie on the 13th. Both Kress and Turner each tied their next hole, it setup a clinching finish on either the 16th (Turner) or 17th green (Kress) that but up against each other. Kress pared on the par3 17th and headed to the 18th 1Up.
All the attention turned to the 17th green for the second straight year in the semifinals for the Orange and Blue faithful as Turner dropped the 16th hole and was 2Up with two to play. Both himself and his opponent Tommy Morrison each landed their tee shot on the green. Morrison need to make birdie and missed as Turner pushed it up as both conceded for pars and a 2&1 victory for Turner. This marks the back-to-back seasons the junior sent Florida into the championship finals on the 17th after he defeated the now three-time SEC Individual Champion and No. 1-ranked amateur Jackson Koivun.
Kress dropped the 18th hole and was tied at the time and goes as tied for the final score. Tomorrow he will play in his third SEC Championship Finals and 10th match at the conference tournament.
The Gators look to claim its 18th SEC Championship Title, which is second all-time behind Georgia (29), who hasn't won a title in 10 years. Florida also wins it three conference championship in four years.
A victory would be the seventh time in program history Florida won back-to-back SEC Team Championships – 1955-56, 1973-74, 1974-75, 1991-92, 1992-93 and 1993-94. The seven consecutive victories are second-most all-time – UGA leads with 15.
A win would also be the third conference title in the match play era (2017-present), tied for the most with Auburn and Vanderbilt. Neither the Commodores or Tigers won their three titles in a shorter stretch compared to the Gators. Overall, the last time a school won three conference championships in a four-year span was Alabama, who won three straight from 2012-14 and featured PGA TOUR pro Justin Thomas..
Post Round Quotes - Head Coach J.C. Deacon
On his team's performance this week...
"They just continue to impress. It's amazing what these guys do. That that Texas team is so good, and I knew it was going to take our best golf to get three points. I am so proud of the opportunity they have tomorrow, but the job is not done. We got a great Ole Miss team waiting now for and we're going to have to play even better tomorrow."
On Parker Sands this week after being the sub here last season...
"It's funny. I told his dad, Mike Sands last year that all of our six men that we'd had here at SECs had found a way to make the team the next year. He reminded me of that when we got here this week. We have thrown everything at him. It's been really difficult for him to get in the lineup, but he earned it, and he's making great with this opportunity. It's pretty amazing was Parker is doing."
SEC Championship Finals - No. 2 Florida vs. No. 4 Ole Miss
8 a.m. – Zack Swanwick vs. Tom Fischer
8:10 a.m. – Luke Poulter vs. Daniel Tolf
8:20 a.m. – Parker Sands vs. Cameron Tankersley
8:30 a.m. – Matthew Kress vs. Collins Trolio
8:40 a.m. – Jack Turner vs. Cohen Trolio
SEC Championship Semifinals - No. 2 Florida (3.5) vs. No. 3 Texas (1.5)
Zack Swanwick 3&2 over Daniel Bennett
Christiaan Maas 4&3 over Christaan Maas
Parker Sands 4&3 over Luke Potter
Matthew Kress TIED Matt Comegys (Through 18 holes)
Jack Turner 2&1 over Tommy Morrison
SEC Championship Match Play Bracket
No. 4 Ole Miss 3-2 over No. 1 Auburn
No. 2 Florida 3.5-1.5 over No. 3 Texas
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Golf
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