Gator Country

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The No. 4 Florida men’s golf team finished 14th after Sunday’s final round of the Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters Invitational. Tourney host UNLV and UCLA shared the team title with 35-over totals of 899 and the Gators were 38 strokes behind at 937 (292-326-319).

“We faced a different kind of golf course and I just believe that we don’t have the experience to understand how to play on a golf course this demanding from a green standpoint,” Florida coach Buddy Alexander said. “We don’t seem to be good when the wind is blowing, which identifies some things we need to work on and we need to do it pretty quickly because we play again this weekend. The good news coming from this weekend is that we don’t have much time to dwell on how we played. We will get out and compete again quickly.”

The Gators actually led the tournament with a 4-over-par 292 after Friday’s round. But their 326 effort on Saturday – the highest among the 15 teams competing – began their free fall. Only Arizona (938) finished behind the Gators.

Still, there was good news. Senior Tyson Alexander rebounded from his second-round 80 to match par 72 on the par-72, 7,510-yard Southern Highlands Golf Club course, a co-design of the late Robert Trent Jones and his son, Robert Trent Jr. His three-day total of 4-over 220 left him tied for second with Southern California’s T.J. Vogel, one shot behind tournament medalist Jesper Kennegard of Arizona State.

Senior Tim McKenney had the next best finish for the Orange and Blue, tying for 48th with a 54-hole score of 237 (75-79-83, +21). McKenney shot his highest round of the tournament on Sunday, carding an 11-over 83.

Freshman Phillip Choi matched his second-round score with a 10-over 82 in the final round. The freshman finished in a tie for 61st with a 240 (76-82-82, +24). Redshirt junior Andres Echavarria finished 67th after matching his score from Saturday with a 13-over 85 for a final score of 243 (73-85-85, +27). Freshman Tyler McCumber finished in 77th place with a total tournament score of 249 (82-85-82, +33).

Florida visits Statesboro, Ga., this Friday through Sunday to compete in the Chris Schenkel E-Z-Go Invitational.

SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS COLLEGIATE MASTERS INVITATIONAL
At par-72, 7,510-yard Southern Highlands Golf Club, Las Vegas, Nev.

Florida scores: T2. (42) Tyson Alexander 220 (68-80-72) (+4); T48. Tim McKenney 237 (75-79-83) (+21); T61. Phillip Choi 240 (76-82-82) (+24); T67. Andres Echavarria 243 (73-85-85) (+27); 77. Tyler McCumber 249 (82-85-82) (+33).

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