Prior to the 2023-24 campaign, Head Coach J.C. Deacon announced the promotion of Dudley Hart to Associate Head Coach on Aug. 31, 2023.
In the spring of 2024, Hart enrolled back in classes and completed his degree requirements, earning his bachelor's degree in history.
The Gators continued their success once again in the 2024-25 campaign as Florida was both a National Championship Semifinalist and SEC Champions, all for the second time in three seasons. UF also won the NCAA Bremerton Regional to conclude a five win campaign along with a pair of medalist honors from Ian Gilligan (6th collegiate win) and Luke Poulter (first collegiate win).
Florida won two of the three postseason tournaments (SEC Championship & NCAA Regional) as the last time UF won both a team conference and regional title in the same season was 2011. It was also the fourth time both have been done in a season in program history - 1989 & 1992.
The victory at the regional was the first since 2018 for a total five team titles this season and the third straight season of four-plus victories.
In the final round of stroke play at the national championship, Florida tied for the lowest-round (-8) of the day and second-lowest of the tournament with top-seeded Arizona State (-14). The final round produced a 72-hole score of 9-under 1143, its lowest score by par at the National Championships since 26-under in 2001, when Florida won the team title. The last time UF shot 9-under in a round at nationals was round four in 2006. Both Matthew Kress (T9, -3) and Gilligan (T13, -2) each earned NCAA All-Tournament Team and All-American status with their performances.
The Gators earned a spot in match play at nationals for the second time in three seasons and defeated No. 6 Texas 3-2 in the quarterfinals after rallying down 2-0 and winning the final three matches. It was Florida's fourth win in championship match play.
Florida reached SEC Match Play Finals for the third time overall and in the last four years (2022 & 2023) by defeating the No. 6 ranked Oklahoma Sooners 3-2 in the quarterfinals and the No. 1 seed, No. 2 ranked and the reigning SEC and National Champion Auburn Tigers, 3.5-1.5 in the semifinals. The Gators defeated Texas A&M 4-1 in the finals for the program's 17th conference title, ranking No. 2 among men's golf programs. It was also the 10th match play win in the SEC Championship, ranking second-most in the conference behind Vanderbilt's 13.
At the NCAA Bremerton Regional, Florida had a final round of 3-under 285 for a 54-hole score of 28-under 836 after a 16-under round two, which was the sixth lowest round by par and lowest at a regional since a 17-under final round in 2018. The final tournament score by par of 28-under is tied for eighth lowest all-time and third-lowest at an NCAA Regional in program history. Florida's 28-under par was the third-lowest in regional play this year - Auburn 32-under and Florida State 29-under, who both played on their home course.
Defending home turf for the sixth consecutive year, UF swept the 48th Gators Invitational behind Gilligan's sixth collegiate win, including defeating National Champion Oklahoma State. The victory was the 31st overall and 16th sweep (team and individual title) at the home tournament as Florida had an all-underclassmen lineup competing.
The second individual title was captured by redshirt-sophomore Luke Poulter at the Schenkel Invitational. He led all three rounds and became the sixth Gator to win the tournament, joining Andy Bean, Matt Every, Phil Hancock, Steve Scott and Bank Vongvanij.
Heading into postseason play, the Orange and Blue defended its team title at the Calusa Cup behind a final round of 17-under, tied for third all-time in program history by par. The win marked the third consecutive year UF has won the final regular season event (2024 Calusa Cup & 2023 Augusta Hakskins Award Invite). The final round of 271 tied the lowest round by score this season as the -17 was the season-low score by par in a round. Also the final team score of 17-under also set a new tournament record for the Calusa Cup.
Hart was announced as an assistant coach for Team USA at the 2024 Arnold Palmer Cup where Gators Ian Gilligan and Maisie Filler will be apart of his team.
Following Florida’s SEC and National Championship titles, the Gators featured a new look lineup while three First-Team All-Americans - Fred Biondi (NCAA Individual Champion), Ricky Castillo and Yuxin Lin - all departed. Returning from the championship teams was John DuBois and Matthew Kress for the 2024-25 season.
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 new look Gators left their mark in the postseason. At the SEC Championship, UF was led by true fresh- man 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. Vanderbilt and Florida meet for the third straight season in match play at SECs with the Commodores edging out the Gators 3-2 in extra holes in the quarterfinals.
Moving to NCAA Regional play in West Lafayette, Florida entered round three in the final advancing spot by four-shot. The Gators shot a final round of 2-under to take 3rd and make the cut by 12 strokes. Through the first hour-and-half in the final rounds, teams battled rainy and cold conditions. Florida put together great start and setup for success when the rain stopped, with a combined 1-under on the first hole (#10) and was even-par on counting scores through the first five holes in the rain. Florida made a charge in the final nine holes after finding itself 1-over at the turn and only a four-shot advantage over Indiana, who had just teed off its round its. The Florida separation began with a trio of birdies from Parker Bell, John DuBois and Ian Gilligan. Then Jack Turner put the Hoosiers and Mississippi State’s comeback efforts out of reach with a birdie on six to go up by 10 shots and into fourth place.
At the NCAA National Championship, Florida concluded with an 11th-place finish and battled for back-to-back match play appearances. An important 1-under 287 third round helped advance Florida to the final round of stroke play for the third consecutive season. The Gators started the day in eighth, and in the final match-play spot with a one-shot advantage. The Orange and Blue continued its streak of five straight top-11 finishes after winning the national title - 1974: 2nd, 1994: 3rd, 1969: T5 and 2002: T11.
It was a historic season for Hart and the Gators in 2022-23 that led to the program’s fifth National Championship and 16th SEC Championship. He was also named the 2023 Jan Strickland Outstanding Assistant Coach of the Year. Hart is only the second Gator to receive the award in program history, joining John Handrigan in 2015. This marks the first time in program history that Florida has won the national assistant and head coach of the year awards as J.C. Deacon received it for the first time in his career.
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.
He helped lead the Gators to its fifth National Championship in program history and first in 22 years last week as Florida also swept NCAAs with Fred Biondi winning the individual title. 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.
UF reached match play at nationals for the first time in program history and its best finish in the match play era (2009) last year in 10th. Florida played in the fourth round of stroke play for the fifth time in program history and second with Hart. It was also the second consecutive season to clinch a spot in the final 18.
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 performance by UF is the best round at the NCAA Championships since the opening round in 2007.
Hart helped guide Florida to its 16th SEC Championship and first in 12 years. The Gators got revenge in a rematch and defeat of No. 1 Vanderbilt 3-1-1 at Sea Island. The conference championship was Hart's second overall as he won one in 1989 as a player.
The Gators won the NCAA team and individual title and conference title in the same season for the first time in program history.
Florida claimed six team titles and six individual titles this season. The six team wins was 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 when Hart was on the tem and in 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 VyStar Credit Union Gators Invitational, Florida won its home event for the fourth straight year and the 29th time overall in the tournament's 46th occurrence.
Hart saw four golfers (Fred Biondi, Ricky Castillo, John DuBois and Yuxin Lin) all earn 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 Fred Biondi, Quentin Debove and John DuBois being named GCCA All-American Scholars, which marked the back-to-back years with multiple honorees and most selections in a single season in program history.
Dudley Hart was named the next assistant coach for the Gators on September 15, 2021.
After a bumpy fall in the 2021-22 season, Hart got the Gators regrouped for a dominant spring. The second half of the season started on a strong note with winning back-to-back tournaments victories at the Sea Best Invitational and the VyStar Gators Invitational. The victory at Sea Best marked the fifth time in the spring opener and third time under Deacon.
At the Gator, Florida won the 45th annual event for the 28th time in program history. The Gators shot 28-under (812) to win by 12 strokes over No. 3 Oklahoma State. Fred Biondi finished 14-under at 196 to tie the tournament record while he claimed his first collegiate medalist honor. The record was last set by Camilo Benedetti in 2001 as he tied for second in tournament score and tied third all-time in tournament score by par in three rounds. A native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, he set career bests in low round (63), tournament score and finish on the weekend. Biondi became the 16th UF golfer to be the individual champion at the invite as his birdie on 18th concluded the career outing and brought the crowd at Mark Bostick to their feet.
Biondi’s first collegiate victory turned into a breakout season as he won his second tournament at the Calusa Cup along with two runner-up finishes, including at the NCAA Palm Beach Regional. He ended his season being named a PING First Team All-American, Haskins Award Finalist, All-SEC First Team, GCAA All-American Scholar, PING All-Region Team and two-time SEC Golfer of the Week.
At the 2022 SEC Championships, another Gator won his first collegiate title with John DuBois being crowned the individual champion. He became he 25th Gator in program history to win the title, the most by any SEC School. He joins the list of names such as Tommy Aaron, Steve Melnyk, Brian Gay, Camilo Benedetti, and volunteer assistant coach Billy Horschel. It marks the third UF golfer to win in the last five tournaments: Alejandro Tosti (2017) and Andy Zhang (2018).
The Gators advanced to the SEC match play finals for the first time since the format was added in 2017. UF knocked off No. 6 Georgia (3-1-1) in the quarterfinals and No. 2 Texas A&M (3-1-1) in the semifinals. Florida finished runner-up for the 13th time in program history and first since 2010.
UF took care of business at the NCAA Palm Beach Regional with 3rd place performance, advancing to its 55th NCAA Championship. At Grayhawk and the NCAA Championships, the Gators rallied in round three on the back nine to make the top-15 cut. Florida concluded its run only seven strokes from making match play for a 10th place finish, marking the highest since 2007 - a 9th place outing.
He recently served as the volunteer assistant coach for the last four seasons (2017-2020).
Hart, a 2003 UF Hall of Fame inductee, was member of the Gator golf team from 1987 to 1990. Over his four years, Hart was the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year (1987), a three-time first-team All-SEC selection and a four-time All-American.
He is one of five Gators in program history to be a four-time All-American and was the first of eight to earn SEC Freshman of the Year Honors.
In his senior season (1989-1990), Florida was just two strokes away from claiming the National Championship, falling to an Arizona State team led by Phil Mickelson.
Hart went on to have a decorated professional career which included two PGA Tour victories at the 1996 RBC Canadian Open and the 2000 Honda Classic.
That year, he would rise to 21st in the World Rankings, his highest ranking on the Tour.
What they Said
Coach JC Deacon
"Adding Dudley to our program as the next assistant golf coach is a big win for the Florida Gators," Deacon said. "Dudley has spent the majority of his life playing the PGA Tour against the best players in the world. His knowledge, experience, and practice habits are going to be a huge asset for our student-athletes. He has a remarkable passion for helping others and his attention to detail is unmatched.
"He is also a Gator alum and understands exactly how special our university is and what it takes to be successful here. I am very excited to watch the impact he's going to have on our program for years to come. I would also like to thank Dudley's wife Suzanne for her sacrifices and effort in making this dream possible."
Dudley Hart File
Coaching Experience:
2023 (Aug. 31) - Present, Associate Head Coach
2021-2023 (Aug. 30): Florida, Assistant Coach
2017-2021: Florida, Volunteer Assistant Coach
Playing Experience:
1991-2021: PGA Tour
Education
University of Florida 1987-90 (player)
University of Florida ‘24 - bachelor's degree in history.
