ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – Billy Horschel wanted a championship ring to end his golfing career at the University of Florida.
He’s got one now and his career – and the Gators’ season – isn’t over yet.
Horschel, a senior from Grant, Fla., shot a final round of 1-under-par 71 for a three-day total of 10-under-par 206 that was good for a 2-stroke victory over Mississippi State’s Carlos Sainz for the individual crown in the SEC Men’s Golf Championship Sunday at the Frederica Golf Club.
And with Horschel, who opened with rounds of 68 and 67, leading the way all weekend, coach Buddy Alexander’s Gators finished third as a team behind runaway winner Georgia, the nation’s top-ranked men’s golf team, and runner-up Arkansas.
The victory by Horschel was his first since he captured medalist honors at the 2007 NCAA East Regional and his 10-under-par 206 total was his third lowest tournament score in relation to par.
“I’m elated for Billy,” Alexander said. “He played beautifully all week. He’s a senior and he’s worked extremely hard. He wanted a ring and now he’s going to get one as an individual.”
With Horschel playing solidly all weekend, Florida finished with a 1-over-par total of 865 after three trips around the par-72, 7,217-yard Tom Fazio-designed course. The Gators totaled even-par 288 Sunday and spent a great deal of the day in second place before the Razorbacks rallied late and took second place with their 2-under-par 862 total.
Neither school scared Georgia, which shot under par in each round and finished with a total of 15-under-par 849. With three golfers finishing in the Top 10, the Bulldogs finished the tournament with a 2-under 286 effort.
Alexander’s son Tyson, a junior, carded six birdies on his way to a 2-under-par 70 which helped him move up 17 spots on the leaderboard to finish in a tie for 17th place at 3-over-par 219.
“We started much better today,” coach Alexander said. “Tyson put us in position to catch Arkansas but we couldn’t quite get it done. We knew coming into the tournament that Georgia was team to beat.”
Senior Will Strickler shot even par (72) in the final round and finished tied for 21st place at 4-over-par 220. Senior Toby Ragland concluded the tournament with a 3-over-par 75 and tied for 31st place at 6-over-par 222. Junior Tim McKenney shot a final-round 76 that left him at 11-over-par 227 and tied for 43rd place.
“I thought the team had a decent showing,” Alexander continued. “I was proud of the way they battled hard but we’ve still got a few things to work on before the NCAA Regionals.”
Florida now waits to find out its regional assignment on May 14-16. There are six regional sites – Galloway, N.J. (Columbia University is host); Austin, Texas (Texas); Daly City, Calif. (San Francisco); Sorrento, Fla. (UCF), Bowling Green, Ky. (Western Kentucky) and Stillwater, Okla. (Oklahoma State).
The 2009 NCAA Championship will be played at the Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio, May 26-30.
SEC MEN’S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga.—Results after Sunday’s final round at the par-72, 7,217-yard Frederica Golf Club in the Southeastern Conference Men’s Golf Championship:
Team scores: 1. Georgia 849 (282-281-286) (-15); 2. Arkansas 862 (290-283-289) (-2); 3. Florida 865 (292-285-288) (+1); T4. Louisiana State 872 (301-294-277) (+8) and South Carolina 872 (293-286-293) (+8); 6. Alabama 873 (308-284-281) (+9); 7. Kentucky 876 (297-285-294) (+12); 8. Mississippi 878 (296-290-292) (+14); 9. Mississippi State 884 (293-290-301) (+20); 10. Vanderbilt 886 (292-293-301) (+22); 11. Tennessee 888 (305-292-291) (+24); 12. Auburn 903 (301-300-302) (+39).
Individual Top 10: 1. Billy Horschel (Florida) 68-67-71–206 (-10); 2. Carlos Sainz (Mississippi State) 71-68-69–208 (-8); 3. John Peterson (Louisiana State) 71-71-68–210 (-6); 4. Brian Harman (Georgia) 70-72-69–211 (-5); T5. Bud Cauley (Alabama) 73-70-69–212 (-4), Harris English (Georgia) 70-74-68–212 (-4) and David Lingmerth (Arkansas) 70-69-73–212 (-4); 8. Jordan Blann (Kentucky) 67-70-76–213 (-3); 9. Andrew Landry (Arkansas) 73-71-70–214 (-2); T10. Wesley Bryan (South Carolina) 75-69-71–215 (-1) and Adam Mitchell (Georgia) 72-69-74–215 (-1).
Florida scores: 1. Billy Horschel 68-67-71–206 (-10); T17. Tyson Alexander 76-73-70–219 (+3); T21. Will Strickler 77-71-72–220 (+4); T31. Toby Ragland 71-76-75–222 (+6); T43. Tim McKenney 77-74-76–227 (+11).