In collegiate golf, the chance to play in the confines of your home course is a rarity during the season.
Although the No. 4 Florida men’s golf team was a recipient of the opportunity over the weekend, the Gators’ fourth-place finish at the SunTrust Gator Invitational isn’t how coach Buddy Alexander pictured his team defending their turf.
“I know we are better than we played this week,” Alexander said. “We have a lot to learn and a lot to improve on.”
UF shot a combined 851 (+11) during the three-day tournament, during an ideal weekend weather-wise at the Mark Bostick Golf Course.
The Gators finished 19 strokes behind in-state rival and tournament winner Florida State (-8). They also finished a combined five strokes behind the second and third place finishers — North Florida (+7) and South Alabama (+10), respectively.
Redshirt sophomore Santiago Gavino had his best round ever as a Gator on Sunday, ending the day with a 67 (-3) to finish tied for 12th place.
In his last home tournament as a Gator, UF senior Tyler McCumber would finish in a tie for 17th place with fellow-Gator and sophomore J.D. Tomlinson, as they both scored a three-day total of 213.
Florida also saw two more seniors in their last Bostick appearances in T.J. Vogel (216, +6) and Tommy Mou (224, +14).
While Florida will not have the luxury of playing on their home course again this season, the team will have a rather short trip for their next tournament. The Gators will make the short trek to nearby by Ponte Vedra Beach on February 24th for the John Hayt Invitational.