SEA ISLAND, Ga. – Senior All-American Billy Horschel surged into the individual lead with a 5-under-par 67 and the Florida men’s golf team stood third after two rounds of the SEC Men’s Golf Championship at the Frederica Golf Club.
Horschel was atop the individual leaderboard with a two-day total of 9-under-par 135, two strokes ahead of Jordan Blann of Kentucky. The Gators shot a 3-under-par 285 for a two-day total of 1-over-par 577 which was 14 strokes behind Georgia (281-563) but just four strokes behind second-place Arkansas (283-573).
Horschel made four birdies on the front nine and added three more birdies on the back nine to offset two bogeys for his 67. His 36-hole score is the best opening two rounds for a Florida golfer at the SEC Championship.
“Today was like yesterday,” Florida coach Buddy Alexander said. “We got off to a poor start but Billy played really well again. We shot a little better today as a team, but we still have one guy playing up a storm and we’re riding him.”
Senior Will Strickler, who opened with a 77 Friday, battled back with a 1-under-par 71 Saturday. Strickler started his round with two bogeys on his first three holes but played the last 15 holes in 3-under par. He was tied for 24th at 4-over-par 148.
Senior Toby Ragland, who opened the tournament with a 71, slipped to 4-over 76 Saturday and was tied for 21st at 3-over-par 147.
Junior Tyson Alexander birdied two of his final four holes to shoot a 1-over-par 73 that left him tied for 34th at 5-over-par 149. Fellow junior Tim McKenney shot a 74 that left him at 7-over-par 151, tied for 42nd place.
“We’re in a tough spot to catch Georgia,” Buddy Alexander continued. “It might take a historic day to pass them, but we’ll got out and try to play well and hope for the best.”
The Gators’ final round begins Sunday morning at 8:50.
SEC MEN’S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
SEA ISLAND, Ga. – Results after Saturday’s second round at the par-72, 7,217-yard Frederica Golf Club in the Southeastern Conference Men’s Golf Championship:
Team results: 1. Georgia 563 (282-281) (-13); 2. Arkansas 573 (290-283) (-3); 3. Florida 577 (292-285) (+1); 4. South Carolina 579 (293-286) (+3); 5. Kentucky 582 (297-285) (+6); 6. Mississippi State 583 (293-290) (+7); 7. Vanderbilt 585 (292-293) (+9); 8. Mississippi 586 (296-290) (+10); 9. Alabama 592 (308-284) (+16); 10. Louisiana State 595 (301-294) (+19); 11. Tennessee 597 (305-292) (+21); 12. Auburn 601 (301-300) (+25).
Individual Top 10: 1. Billy Horschel (Florida) 68-67—135 (-9); 2. Jordan Blann (Kentucky) 67-70—137 (-7); T3. Carlos Sainz Jr. (Mississippi State) 71-68—139 (-5) and David Lingmerth (Arkansas) 70-69—139 (-5); 5. Hudson Swafford (Georiga) 71-69—140 (-4); T6. Mark Silvers III (South Carolina) 68-73—141 (-3) and Adam Mitchell (Georgia) 72-69—141 (-3); T8. Russell Henley (Georgia) 71-71—142 (-2), Brian Harman (Georgia) 70-72—142 (-2) and John Peterson (LSU) 71-71—142 (-2).
Florida results: 1. Billy Horschel 68-67—135 (-9); T21. Toby Ragland 71-76—147 (+3); T24. Will Strickler 77-71—148 (+4); T34. Tyson Alexander 76-73—149 (+5); T42. Tim McKenney 77-74—151 (+7).