Florida Gators
SunTrust Gator Invitational
No. 12 Florida Men's Golf Wins Fifth Straight SunTrust Gator Invitational
Sunday, February 10, 2008 | Men's Golf
Behind a 2-under final-round score of 278, the 12th-ranked University of Florida men's golf team completed a wire-to-wire finish and claimed its fifth straight SunTrust Gator Invitational victory on Sunday at the Mark Bostick Golf Course. The Gators completed the weekend with a 20-under 54-hole total of 820.
Florida State was the only other team in red figures with an 8-under 832 to take runner-up honors following a final-round 278 (-2). Mississippi State was third with a 2-over 842, UAB was fourth with a 4-over 844 and South Alabama was fifth with an 11-over 851.
Florida has captured 17 out of the past 20 Gator Invitationals and now owns 22 titles in the 31-year history of the event. Florida's five straight home tournament victories represents the longest streak of consecutive Gator Invite wins since the Gators claimed nine straight from 1989-97. The win was also Florida's first since claiming the 2007 Gator Invitational.
“It would be easy to say it is not a big deal to win the Gator (Invitational) again, but this is a young team that is learning how to win,” said UF head coach Buddy Alexander. “I think they did that pretty emphatically today, and I am excited and proud of them.”
The Gators' total of 820 (-20) represented the third-lowest tournament score in school history and the lowest since the 2001 team posted a 30-under 810 at the Mark Bostick Golf Course. Sunday's figure was a sharp contrast to the 10-over 850 that won the event a year ago. The 12-shot win was the largest margin of victory since the course underwent a major renovation in 2001.
Duke's Michael Schachner and UAB's Zach Sucher shared individual medalist honors with a 7-under 203. Schachner posted a final-round 67 and finished up on the ninth green while Sucher was still on the course. Sucher went to the 18th tee with a one- shot lead, but he took a bogey five on the final hole to finish at 7-under.
Upon the coaches, players and officials consent, both were crowned co-individual medalists, a first in the prestigious history of the tournament.
Florida took a 12-shot lead into the final day and maintained that advantage behind two under-par scorecards. Weather conditions were similar to Saturday's first two rounds, but tougher pin positions put birdies at a premium.
Sophomore Tyson Alexander (Gainesville, Fla.) capped a career-best weekend with a final round 2-under 68 to take third place. His 54-hole total of 204 (-6) bested his previous career-low of 214 set at the 2007 Puerto Rico Classic. Alexander's previous best finish was a tie for 12th at that event.
Alexander, who shot rounds of 66 and 70 on Saturday, played his first nine holes on Sunday at 2-under. He held the lead after rolling in birdies on 12 and 17 but finished with a double-bogey six on 18.
“He's come a long way in the last eight months,” said Alexander of his son. “He's a guy that I am pretty confident having in my lineup right now. Being just a sophomore, he should continue to get better. He's become a pretty good putter and that is the main thing that has improved in his game. He should develop into a pretty good college player.”
Junior Billy Horschel (Grant, Fla.) earned his second top-five finish of the season with an even-par 70 on Sunday. Horschel finished at 5-under 205 after posting rounds of 67 and 68 on the first day. He played his final seven holes at 2-under with birdies on 12 and 16 to atone for consecutive bogeys to start the back nine.
Freshman Bank Vongvanij (Bradenton, Fla.), playing as an individual, registered the first top-10 placing of his career. After firing rounds of 68 and 67 on Saturday, Vongvanij closed with a 3-over 73 to earn a share of ninth place. He finished with a 54-hole total of 208 (-2).
Senior Manuel Villegas (Medellin, Colombia) carded a 1-over 71 to finish in a tie for 12th place. Villegas' cumulative score of 1-under 209 tied for his lowest of the season. Junior Will Strickler (Charlottesville, Va.) finished in a tie for 17th behind a 1-under 69. Strickler's 54-hole even-par tally of 210 was the lowest of his career.
“Will Strickler is getting better, and I am excited to see him bounce back after his first round,” said Alexander.
Senior Tyler Brown (Jacksonville, Fla.) finished in a tie for 19th place with a 3-over 73 that put him at 1-over 211 for the tournament. Junior Toby Ragland (Jacksonville, Fla.), UF's No. 5 starter, claimed a share of 26th place after a two-day total of 214 (+4).
Florida hopes to continue its winning ways as the Gators return to action at the John Hayt Invitational, Feb. 17-19, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. The tournament will be hosted by North Florida at the par-72 Sawgrass Country Club.
Final Team Scores
| Place | School | Score |
| 1. | Florida | 269-273-278 = 820 (-20) |
| 2. | Florida State | 278-276-278 = 832 (-8) |
| 3. | Mississippi State | 288-275-279 = 842 (+2) |
| 4. | UAB | 276-280-288 = 844 (+4) |
| 5. | South Alabama | 283-282-286 = 851 (+11) |
| T6. | Duke | 289-281-283 = 853 (+13) |
| T6. | Wake Forest | 288-278-287 = 853 (+13) |
| T6. | LSU | 283-279-291 = 853 (+13) |
| 9. | Coastal Carolina | 283-283-290 = 856 (+16) |
| 10. | Georgia Southern | 287-282-292 = 861 (+21) |
| 11. | Ole Miss | 280-281-301 = 862 (+22) |
| 12. | North Florida | 284-286-295 = 865 (+25) |
| 13. | South Florida | 291-294-288 = 873 (+33) |
| 14. | Georgia State | 290-290-308 = 888 (+48) |
Final Individual Top 10
| Place | Player (School) | Score |
| T1. | Michael Schachner (Duke) | 68-68-67 = 203 (-7) |
| T1. | Zach Sucher (UAB) | 68-67-68 = 203 (-7) |
| 3. | Tyson Alexander (Florida) | 66-70-68 = 204 (-6) |
| T4. | Billy Horschel (Florida) | 67-68-70 = 205 (-5) |
| T4. | Andrew Loupe (LSU) | 68-65-72 = 205 (-5) |
| T6. | Jonas Blixt (Florida State) | 67-67-73 = 207 (-4) |
| T6. | Marc-Ettienne Bussieres (S. Ala.) | 68-72-67 = 207 (-3) |
| T6. | Seath Lauer (Florida State) | 72-68-67 = 207 (-3) |
| T9. | Bank Vongvanij (Florida) | 68-67-73 = 208 (-2) |
| T9. | Drew Kittleson (Florida State) | 72-68-68 = 208 (-2) |
Final Florida Results
| Place | Player | Score |
| 3. | Tyson Alexander | 66-70-68 = 204 (-6) |
| T4. | Billy Horschel | 67-68-70 = 205 (-5) |
| T9. | Bank Vongvanij (Individual) | 68-67-73 = 208 (-2) |
| T12. | Manuel Villegas | 67-71-71 = 209 (-1) |
| T17. | Will Strickler | 73-68-69 = 210 (E) |
| T19. | Tyler Brown (Individual) | 68-70-73 = 211 (+1) |
| T26. | Toby Ragland | 69-67-78 = 214 (+4) |
| T28. | Tim McKenney (Individual) | 67-72-76 = 215 (+5) |
