As if 54 holes of golf in two days wasn’t enough, Florida seniors Toby Ragland and Billy Horschel needed another seven holes to decide the individual champion of the 2009 SunTrust Gator Invitational after they and their Gator teammates captured the team title on the Mark Bostick Golf Course for the sixth straight year.
After the Gators totaled a 1-under total of 279 to finish the two-day event with a 16-under 824 total and 18-shot victory over Mississippi, Ragland and Horschel, who had tied for the individual lead with 5-under-par 205 totals, went into the playoff with UCF golfer Simon Ward, who shot a 3-under 67 to get his share of first place with Horschel (70) and Ragland (72).
All three players made par on the first two holes but Ward was eliminated on the third hole when the Gators each made a birdie. Ragland and Horschel kept up coming up with clutch putts to send the match to the seventh hole.
“I hit my approach a little short of pin high,” said Ragland, a senior from Jacksonville. “It was a tough putt because I knew it was going to go right and it doesn’t look like it. I just trusted it.”
Ragland’s trust was rewarded with his first individual tournament title.
“I’m happy for Toby and he certainly deserves it,” said Florida head coach Buddy Alexander. “I’m equally proud of Billy. Both guys are seniors and they’re playing their last waltz here. It was pretty special what went on in that playoff.”
The playoff was the longest in tournament history and Ragland became the 11th Florida player to win the individual medal. It was Florida’s 23rd victory in the event which started in 1978.
Ragland and Horschel were among five Gators who finished in the Top 10. Juniors Tim McKenney and Tyson Alexander each shot 1-under 69s. McKenney’s was good for a solo fifth finish at 207, while Alexander finished tied for sixth with two other golfers at 208. Playing as an individual, freshman Mu Hu of China tied for ninth at 1-under 209.
Redshirt sophomore Andres Echavarria of Colombia finished at 210 in a tie for 14th and freshman Max Kieffer of Germany was tied for 22nd at 3-over 213. They both played as individuals. Senior Will Strickler shot a 1-over 71 for a 6-over 216 individual total and to close out Florida’s third-round 279.
“They all played pretty well,” coach Alexander continued. “I’m proud of them and it’s a great way to start the spring.”
Mississippi totaled 287 to finish at 842 to capture runner-up honors. UCF was third at 846 after shooting 280. Florida State finished fourth at 847 after shooting a team-best 277 which was matched by Louisiana State.
Next for the Gators is the Puerto Rico Invitational Feb. 27-March 1 at the Rio Mar Resort in San Juan. The tournament is hosted by Purdue University.
SUNTRUST GATOR INVITATIONAL
Final results after Sunday’s third round at the par-70 Mark Bostick Golf Course in the 2009 SunTrust Gator Invitational.
Team results
1. Florida 824 (269-276-279 (-16); 2. Mississippi 842 (274-281-287) (+2); 3. UCF 846 (281-285-280) (+6); 4. Florida State 847 (288-282-277) (+7); 5. Duke 848 (279-284-285) (+8); 6. Tie, Coastal Carolina and Louisiana State 850 (+10); 8. Tennessee-Chattanooga 851 (+11); 9. North Florida 856 (+16); 10. Georgia State 858 (+18); 11. Mississippi State 866 (+26); 12. Wake Forest 867 (+27); 13. Georgia Southern 872 (+32); 14. UAB 879 (+39).
Individual Top 10
1. x-Toby Ragland (UF) 68-75-72—205, Billy Horschel (UF) 65-70-70—205, Simon Ward (UCF) 68-70-67—205; 4. Derek Rende (UT-C) 69-68-69—206; 5. Tim McKenney (UF) 68-70-69—207; 6. Tyson Alexander (UF) 68-71-69—208, Sean Dale (Miss.) 67-70-71—208, Jeff Dennis (UNF) 69-70-69—208; 9. Blayne Barber (UCF) 71-71-67—209, Mu Hu (UF) 71-66-72—209, Drew Kittleson (FSU) 71-70-68—209, Sam Lyons (CC) 66-70-73—209, Sang Yi (LSU) 67-75-67—209. x–won playoff.
Other Florida golfers
14. Andres Echavarria 71-69-70—210; T22. Max Kieffer 68-73-72—213; T35. Will Strickler 71-74-71—216.
WOMEN’S TENNIS: Florida (5-3) scored a 4-3 victory over No. 13 Fresno State Sunday in the consolation draw of the ITA National Team Indoor Championships at Madison, Wis.
For the second straight day, the Gators played shorthanded after an injury to Megan Alexander reduced the squad to five players. Florida lost 4-3 to Southern California on Saturday, but Sunday the Gators rallied from a 3-0 deficit for the victory.
“I have been a part of many championships and many extraordinary teams, but (Sunday’s) comeback with five players against one of the best teams in the country … was one of the highlights of my young coaching career,” Florida coach Roland Thornqvist said. “(Sunday) is something I will remember for the rest of my life.”
Freshman Jessica Alexander provided the clinching victory in three sets over Fresno State’s Tinesta Rowe, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Fresno State won the doubles point with a pair of victories and then earned a walkover point in the singles match for a 2-0 lead. It became 3-0 when Gator freshman Joanna Mather dropped a 6-1, 6-1 decision to Renata Kucerkova.
Junior Marrit Boonstra, ranked No. 34 in the country, upset Fresno State’s 17th-ranked Melanie Gloria, 6-2, 7-5, to begin the comeback. Freshman Barbara Pinterova ended a three-match losing streak with a 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 victory over Laura Pola. Junior Anastasia Revzina, ranked No. 99, then upset Fresno State’s No. 29-ranked Anastasia Petukhova, 6-3, 6-3, to deadlock the match at 3-3.
Florida returns to action next Saturday when it plays host to Troy.
MEN’S TENNIS: No. 7 Florida dropped a 4-1 decision to SEC rival and No. 9 Mississippi in the final consolation match at the ITA National Team Indoor Championships at Chicago’s Midtown Tennis Club.
Joey Burkhardt of St. Augustine earned Florida’s only victory with a 6-2, 6-2 triumph over Christoph Thiemann of Ole Miss. Burkhardt is now 17-8 overall in his freshman season and 6-4 this spring.
Florida is home for two matches this weekend. The Gators entertain South Florida Friday at 3 p.m. and Miami (Fla.) Sunday at 1 p.m.