Florida Gators
NCAA Regionals
No. 1 Florida opens play in Columbus on Monday
Thursday, May 14, 2026 | Men's Golf
Following 54-holes, the top-5 teams and low individual finisher on a non advancing team advance to the NCAA National Championships.
Dates: Monday, May 18 - Wednesday, May 20
Location: Columbus, Ohio - OSC Golf Club (Scarlet Course)
Host: Ohio State University
Course Par/Yardage: 71 / 7,422 yards
Format: 54-hole stroke play (18-18-18)
Tee Times: 7:30 a.m. on Monday & TBA on Tuesday and Wednesday
Scoring: Clippd
Watch: Babygrande ($)
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Lineup
No. 1 - Jack Turner
No. 2 - Luke Poulter
No. 3 - Matthew Kress
No. 4 - Zack Swanwick
No. 5 - Parker Sands
Alternate - Parker Bell
TEE OFF
The No. 2 ranked and No. 1 seed Florida men's golf team begins NCAA Regional play on Monday at 7:30 a.m. the OSU Golf Club.
FOMRAT
The three-day event will consist of 54 holes (18 each day) that starts on Monday, May 18 at the OSU Golf Club in Columbus, Ohio hosted by Ohio State University. At the conclusion of play, the top five teams as well as the low individual finisher not on an advancing team will advance to the NCAA Championship at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif. from May 29-June 3.
A total of 81 teams and 45 individuals (not on a competing team) will play across six regional sites - Athens, Ga., Bermuda Run, N.C., Bryan, Texas, Columbus, Ohio, Corvallis, Ore. and Marana, Ariz. Three regional sites will have 13 teams and 10 individuals and three will have 14 teams and five individuals.
Florida looks to make its 59th NCAA Championship appearance and has only missed qualifying twice under head coach J.C. Deacon. UF has made the championship in 20 of the last 23 tournaments as its 58 all-time outings at nationals rank t-fifth (USC) most in the nation behind Oklahoma State (76), Texas (68) and Arizona State (59).
COMPETING TEAMS (seeds)
No. 1 - Florida
No. 2 - Arizona State
No. 3 - Stanford
No. 4 - Long Beach State
No. 5 - Florida State
No. 6 - Utah
No. 7 - South Carolina
No. 8 - Cal
No. 9 - South Florida
No. 10 - Memphis
No. 11 - Oregon
No. 12 - Illinois State
No. 13 - Wright State
Individuals (seeded in the following order):
No. 1 - Riccardo Fantinelli (Princeton)
No. 2 - Ryan Shellberg (Iowa)
No. 3 - Paul Beauvy (Iowa State)
No. 4 - Chun-Ta Wu (Minnesota)
No. 5 - Caleb Bond (Michigan State)
No. 6 - Ashton McCulloch (Michigan State)
No. 7 - Lucas Politano (Rutgers)
No. 8 - Carter Maneth (Middle Tennessee State)
No. 9 - Zachary May (Iowa State)
No. 10 - Arjun Singh Bhatia (Long Island)
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The Gators have qualified for 36 of the 37 all-time men's golf regionals and every year under head coach J.C. Deacon as Florida won the inaugural East Regional (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) in 1989. UF has claimed a total of seven team titles (1989, 1992, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2018, 2025) and six individual titles - Brain Gay (1993), Brad Lehmann (1994), Camilo Villegas (2001), Billy Horschel (2006 & 2007) and Andy Zhang (2018).
Since regionals started, Florida has advanced out 32 total times, tied for second most in the nation, only behind Oklahoma State's 34.
The Gators earn a top seed for the fifth time and first since 2017. This is the second time the Gators has played in the Columbus Regional with the first being in 2008 when the Gators were a 4-seed and finished T4 to advance.
Both golf programs earned No. 1 seeds for regionals for the second time in program history with the first-ever being in 2017. Florida is one of three schools (Arkansas & Texas) to have both have a top seed this year.
Last year, Florida won the Bremerton Regional in Washington at 28-under while Matthew Kress placed runner-up at 11-under. The 28-under par was the third-lowest in regional play last year - Auburn 32-under and Florida State 29-under, who both played on their home course.
BEEN THERE BEFORE
Experience at regionals this week will be in favor of the Gator lineup. Out of the six UF golfers, five have played regionals before with the only expection of Parker Sands (No. 5), who was the alternate last year, but played in this year's SEC Championship and finished T17 (-5) with a 2-1 record in match play.
For Matthew Kress, this is his fourth regional outing and is coming off his best finish all-time with a T2 (-11). Jack Turner is slated for his third and has finishes of T12 (-2) and T18 (-1). In six rounds, four have been for under par.
Both Luke Poulter and Zack Swanwick are playing in their second regional tournament. Poulter placed T4 (-10) in his debut with all three rounds in the red as Swanwick was T27.
The sub, Parker Bell finishedT8 (-4) in 2024 at the West Lafayette Regional.
LAST TIME OUT
Florida started the postseason with a record setting performance and a runner-up finish at the SEC Championship. A final round record at the conference championship and low round of the day at 13-under produced a three-round total of 807 (-33) that set a new program best by score and par at the conference tournament, shattering the previous best of 828 & -16 last season. In the opening round, Florida then tied the round record at SECs by score and par with a 269 (-11).
Additionally, the 807 mark is the program's lowest all-time in any tournament, beating the previous by three shots that was set at the 2001 Gator Invitational. The 33-under is now the fifth lowest by par, the all-time record is 42-under at the 2018 NCAA Regional.
The Gators reached the match play finals for the third time in four years, which ranks second all-time in the conference during a four-year stretch, only Vanderbilt has accomplished the feat with reaching the finals four straight years. UF reached the final round after knocking off Oklahoma (quarterfinals) and Texas (semifinals). The loss in the finals to Ole Miss was the first match play loss this season.
QUICK GLANCE AT THE GATORS
Florida has captured five team titles for the fourth straight season and the first time in program history. UF won four straight tournaments, tied for the third-longest streak in program history. The Gators closed the fall season winning back-to-back tournaments at the Williams Cup and East Lake Cup, adding to a runner-up outing and T3 performance in the weeks prior. In the five spring tournaments, UF won three of them and finished T3 (Pauma Valley Invitational) and 5th (Southern Highlands Collegiate) at the other two outings.
Individually, Jack Turner has led the group. He has a team-bests in stroke average (70.8), top5s (3), top10s (4), top25s (9), birdies (104), under par rounds (18) and tournaments (7). He tied for 7th at the SEC Championship at 8-under and went 2-0-1 in match play with the clinching point in the semifinals for the second straight year and took down Tommy Morrison of Texas.
SEC TRIO
Florida men's golfers Matthew Kress, Luke Poulter and Jack Turner collected All-SEC honors with Turner named to the First Team while both Kress and Poulter to the Second Team.
Turner adds to his impressive resume with his third career All-SEC honor (Freshman Team 2024 & Second Team 2025). The junior has been the top player for the Gators and was also selected to participate in a second straight Arnold Palmer Cup later this summer. He has team-bests in stroke average (70.8), top5s (3), top10s (4), top25s (9), birdies (104), under par rounds (18) and tournaments (7). He tied for 7th at the SEC Championship at 8-under and went 2-0-1 in match play with the clinching point in the semifinals for the second straight year and took down Tommy Morrison of Texas.
Collecting his second career conference accolade (Freshman Team 2023), Kress has had a consistent spring performance. The senior owns a pair of T3 (-6) finishes and in his last two starts went T11 (-3) and T17 (-5) at the SEC Championship with a match play victory in the quarterfinals. He has a stroke average of 71.2 with a team-high three top5s and seven top25s. Kress ranks second on the team in birdies (94) and par or better rounds (16).
Poulter earns his first All-SEC distinction and was also chosen for his second consecutive Arnold Palmer Cup. In eight tournaments this season, he has finished par or better in seven with three recent outings of -4, -3 and -6. Outside of a T55 in the second event of the season, the junior has placed T16 or better. Poulter is second on the team in stroke average at 71.1 and won both his matches to help Florida win the East Lake Cup in the fall.
STRONG SPRING
In the five regular season spring tournaments, UF won three of them and finished T3 (Pauma Valley Invitational) and 5th (Southern Highlands Collegiate) at the other two outings.
The spring started with a comeback victory at the Sea Best Invitational, led by Matthew Kress' bogey-free 66 (-5) in the final round for its four consecutive team victory (2022, 2023, 2024, 2026) at the event. In 12 total appearances now, the Gators have won the tournament title eight times
At the Gators Invitational, Florida defended its home course for the seventh straight season, winning by 14 shots at 27-under and claiming its fourth consecutive victory (at the time).
Florida entered the final day with a three-shot lead over No. 2 Auburn (-13), which finished second. The Gators and Tigers battled for the team title throughout the day, and Auburn closed it to a one-shot deficit (-23 & -22), but that was the closest the conference rival would get. UF pulled away from the Tigers with a 6-under stretch between holes seven through nine behind a pair of eagles on seven (par5, 565 yards) from Parker Sands and Zack Swanwick.
UF won on its home course and event for the 32nd time in the tournament's 49th year of existence, including winning the last seven straight. The win streak of seven consecutive ranks third all-time as Florida won the event eight times from 2004-11 and nine times from 1989-1997.
Florida captured its fifth tournament victory in the regular season finale at the Calusa Cup. It is the third straight year the Gators have won the event at Calusa Pines Golf Club to mark four consecutive wins in the final regular season tournament – Calusa Cup (2024-26) and Augusta Haskins Award Invitational (2023).
FALL RECAP
The Gators also closed the fall season on a strong note. Winning back-to-back tournaments at the Williams Cup and East Lake Cup, adding to a runner-up outing and T3 performance in the weeks prior.
A 12-shot victory and finish of 15-under highlighted the Williams Cup victory over a group of ranked teams: No. 5 Texas (-3), No. 13 North Carolina (+9), No. 22 Notre Dame (+12), No. 21 Oklahoma (+16), No. 9 Utah (+16) and No. 16 Auburn (+20).
At the East Lake Cup, Florida defeated No. 1 Virginia (Finals) and No. 9 Ole Miss (Semifinals) for the program's first-ever championship at the prestigious event that features last year's final-four teams. Senior Parker Bell delivered the winning point with a clutch birdie on the 18th hole over UVA's Ben James, ranked No. 1 in PGA TOUR University and the No. 2 ranked amateur. The tournament title is the 34th all-time under head coach J.C. Deacon and eighth season of multiple wins, including the last six consecutive.
PRESEASON PUB
Tagged one of the deepest teams in the country, Florida earned a slew of preseason recognition.
UF was selected No. 4 by the GCAA Coach's Poll and Golf Channel while tabbed No. 5 by Golfweek. Additionally, three Gators collected Preseason All-America honors via Luke Poulter (Golf Channel and Golfweek Second Team), Jack Turner (Golf Channel and Golfweek Third Team) and Zack Swanwick (Golf Channel Third Team). Poulter also was named to The Haskins Award Preseason Watch List entering the 2025-26 season.
Senior and last member of the 2023 National Championship squad, Matthew Kress began the season at No. 23 in the PGA TOUR U Preseason Rankings, and is currently ranked No. 17.
EXPERIENCED LINEUP
Florida returns 4-of-5 from last year's starting lineup which included a NCAA National Championship Semifinalist appearance, NCAA Regional Title, SEC Championship and five total tournament wins.
A pair of underclassmen last year in Luke Poulter and Zack Swanwick made their postseason debuts last year and both went 3-0 in match play at the SEC Championship. Poulter was named an All-American by both GCAA and Golfweek while he earned All-Region honors en route to his first collegiate win at the Schenkel Invitational and placed T4 at the NCAA Bremerton Regional.
The true freshman, Swanwick was a member of All-SEC Freshman Team and won a crucial point in Florida's victory over Texas in the NCAA Championship Quarterfinals. He also carded back-to-back rounds of 68 (-2) for a T22 outing at the SEC Championship.
A rising junior and four-time All-American, Jack Turner enters his third season at UF. He continued momentum from a breakout freshman season that featured a spot on the GCAA All-Freshman Team and had a team-best six top-10s and eight top-25s. He won the match-clinching point in the SEC Championship Semifinals against the No. 1 player in college golf and back-to-back SEC Individual Champion, Jackson Koivun of Auburn, the reigning SEC and NCAA Champions.
The lone member of the 2023 NCAA Championship Team, 5th-year Senior Matthew Kress looks to carry his postseason success into his final lap. Kress finished T9 (-3) at the NCAA National Championship to earn All-American status and on the NCAA All-Tournament Team as he holed out for eagle on the 18th hole in the final round of stroke play for three straight rounds of under par: 71-69-70. He collected two important points in postseason match play in a 5&4 victory in the SEC Championship Finals and 3&1 win in the NCAA Championship Quarterfinals.
Finally, UF's postseason alternate for all three tournaments, Parker Sands enters his second season.
A SEASON AGO
The Gators continued their success once again last season, as a National Championship Semifinalist and SEC Champions, all for the second time in three seasons. UF also won the NCAA Bremerton Regional to conclude a five win campaign along with a pair of medalist honors from Ian Gilligan (6th collegiate win) and Luke Poulter (first collegiate win). Head coach J.C. Deacon also was named the Southeast Coach of the Year.
Florida won two of the three postseason tournaments (SEC Championship & NCAA Regional) as the last time UF won both a team conference and regional title in the same season was 2011. It was also the fourth time both have been done in a season in program history - 1989 & 1992.
The victory at the regional was second under Deacon with the first being in 2018 for a total five team titles last season. It also marked the 32nd tournament title under him in 11 seasons. This was the third straight season of four-plus wins under Deacon and the seventh season of multiple wins, including the last five consecutive.
In the last four years, Florida has won the NCAA National Team Championship, NCAA Individual Championship, four NCAA Championships appearances, two NCAA Championship Semifinal Appearances, NCAA Regional Team Championship, two SEC Team Championships, three SEC Final Appearances, SEC Individual Championship, 19 tournament titles and 13 individual titles.
In the final round of stroke play at the national championship, Florida tied for the lowest-round (-8) of the day and second-lowest of the tournament with top-seeded Arizona State (-14). The final round produced a 72-hole score of 9-under 1143, its lowest score by par at the National Championships since 26-under in 2001, when Florida won the team title. The last time UF shot 9-under in a round at nationals was round four in 2006. Both Matthew Kress (T9, -3) and Gilligan (T13, -2) each earned NCAA All-Tournament Team and All-American status with their performances.
The Gators earned a spot in match play at nationals for the second time in three seasons and defeated No. 6 Texas 3-2 in the quarterfinals after rallying down 2-0 and winning the final three matches. It was Florida's fourth win in championship match play. Florida reached SEC Match Play Finals for the third time overall and in the last four years (2022 & 2023) by defeating the No. 6 ranked Oklahoma Sooners 3-2 in the quarterfinals and the No. 1 seed, No. 2 ranked and the reigning SEC and National Champion Auburn Tigers, 3.5-1.5 in the semifinals. The Gators defeated Texas A&M 4-1 in the finals for the program's 17th conference title, ranking No. 2 among men's golf programs. It was also the 10th match play win in the SEC Championship, ranking second-most in the conference behind Vanderbilt's 13.
At the NCAA Bremerton Regional, Florida had a final round of 3-under 285 for a 54-hole score of 28-under 836 after a 16-under round two, which was the sixth lowest round by par and lowest at a regional since a 17-under final round in 2018. The final tournament score by par of 28-under is tied for eighth lowest all-time and third-lowest at an NCAA Regional in program history. Florida's 28-under par was the third-lowest in regional play this year - Auburn 32-under and Florida State 29-under, who both played on their home course.
Defending home turf for the sixth consecutive year, UF swept the 48th Gators Invitational behind Gilligan's sixth collegiate win, including defeating National Champion Oklahoma State. The victory was the 31st overall and 16th sweep (team and individual title) at the home tournament as Florida had an all-underclassmen lineup competing.
The second individual title was captured by redshirt-sophomore Luke Poulter at the Schenkel Invitational. He led all three rounds and became the sixth Gator to win the tournament, joining Andy Bean, Matt Every, Phil Hancock, Steve Scott and Bank Vongvanij.
Heading into postseason play, the Orange and Blue defended its team title at the Calusa Cup behind a final round of 17-under, tied for third all-time in program history by par. The win marked the third consecutive year UF has won the final regular season event (2024 Calusa Cup & 2023 Augusta Haskins Award Invite). The final round of 271 tied the lowest round by score this season as the -17 was the season-low score by par in a round. Also the final team score of 17-under also set a new tournament record for the Calusa Cup.
NEW GATORS
The Orange and Blue welcomed three new Gators this season in Josh Bai (Auckland, New Zealand) who finished runner-up at the 2023 United States Junior Amateur Championship, Trevor Gutschewski (Omaha, Neb.) the 2025 Western Junior and 2024 United States Junior Amateur Champion and Parker Severs (Lakewood Ranch, Fla) the 2024 Florida State Golf Association Four-Ball Champion.
Also after joining Florida last spring, Iowa transfer Noah Kent is eligible this season to compete after playing in the 2025 U.S. Open and The Masters. The junior added two PGA TOUR events under his belt at the Texas Children's Houston Open and CJ Cup by Byron Nelson.
THE TURN
If Florida advances through regionals, the NCAA Championships take place at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif. from May 29-June 3.
