Florida Gators
NCAA National Championships
No. 2 Florida's quest for National Championship starts Friday
Thursday, May 28, 2026 | Men's Golf
The Gators are scheduled to tee off round one at 2:50 p.m. and round two at 9:30 a.m. from Omni La Costa.
Dates: Friday, May 29 - Wednesday, June 3
Location: Carlsbad, Calif. - Omni La Costa: North Course
Host: NCAA / University of Texas
Course Par/Yardage: 72 / 7,548 yards
Tee Times: 2:50 p.m. on Friday ET and 9:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, TBA other days
Scoring: Stroke Play (Friday-Monday) & Match Play (Tuesday-Wednesday)
Watch: Babygrande (Friday-Sunday) & Golf Channel (Monday-Wednesday)
Tickets: NCAA.com
Social Media: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Lineup
No. 1 - Luke Poulter
No. 2 - Jack Turner
No. 3 - Matthew Kress
No. 4 - Zack Swanwick
No. 5 - Parker Sands
Sub Alternate - Parker Bell
TEE OFF
After winning back-to-back NCAA Regional Titles for the first time in program history, the No. 2 Florida men's golf team begins its quest at the NCAA National Championship, teeing off round one at 2:50 p.m. ET at Omni La Costa.
Florida is the No. 2 overall seed and is paired with No. 1 Auburn and No. 3 Texas for the first two rounds as the SEC trio is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. ET on Saturday.
FORMAT
Play consists of four days of stroke play (18 each day) starting Friday, which first features a 54-hole cut on Sunday, with the top-15 teams and nine individuals on a non-advancing team earning a spot in the final round of stroke play on Monday.
After the final 18 holes, the top-8 teams advance to match play and a 72-hole NCAA National Individual Champion is crowned. The team national champion will be determined by a match-play format features the quarterfinals and semifinals conducted on Tuesday, followed by the finals on Wednesday.
HOW TO WATCH
Golf Channel begins its coverage on Monday, June 1 from 5:30-9:30 p.m. for the final round of stroke plya.
Match play coverage on Tuesday, June 2 includes the quarterfinals (1-3:30 p.m.) and semifinals (6-10 p.m.). The finals are scheduled for Wednesday at 5:25 p.m., with live coverage beginning at 6 p.m
New this year, Babygrande Golf will broadcast the first three rounds of stroke play for free.
THE FIELD (Seed Number)
No. 1 Auburn, No. 2 Florida, No. 3 Texas No. 4 Virginia, No. 5 Oklahoma State, No. 6 Arkansas, No. 7 LSU, No. 8 Ole Miss, No. 9 North Carolina, No. 10 Vanderbilt, No. 11 Arizona, No. 12 Arizona State, No. 13 Pepperdine, No. 14 Stanford, No. 15 Oklahoma, No. 16 Tennessee, No. 17 Texas A&M, No. 18 BYU, No. 19 Georgia, No. 20 Florida State, No. 21 Southern California, No. 22 Duke, No. 23 UCLA, No. 24 Louisville, No. 25 Mississippi State, No. 26 Arkansas State, No. 27 Purdue, No. 28 San Diego, No. 29 Chattanooga and No. 30 Memphis
THE INDIVIDUAL FIELD (Seed Number)
No. 1 William Jennings, Alabama, No. 2 Malan Potgieter, Louisiana, No. 3 Michael Lugiano, Liberty, No. 4 Steen Zeman, Long Beach State, No. 5 Jorge Martin Sampedro, UTRGV and No. 6 Jacob Lang, Kentucky
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Florida will make its 59th NCAA Championships appearance, which is second in the SEC and ranks fourth-most in the country. Also this is the sixth straight nationals appearance, which is tied for the fourth longest active streak. Since regionals started in 1989, Florida has advanced 33 total times, tied for second most in the nation, only behind Oklahoma State's 34.
The Gators have only missed qualifying twice under head coach J.C. Deacon in 11 total opportunities. UF has claimed five national titles - 1968, 1973, 1993, 2001, 2023 - which is tied for most among SEC schools and eighth all-time. The program has also finished runner-up four times (1967, 1974, 1990, 2006) for a total 19 top-5 finishes.
UF has made the national championships 21 of the last 24 times as its 59 all-time outings at nationals are tied for fourth most in the nation behind Oklahoma State (77), Texas (69), Arizona State (60) and USC (59). Individually, Florida has produced the individual champion three times, Bob Murphy in 1966, Nick Gilliam in 2001 and Fred Biondi in 2023.
BEEN HERE BEFORE
Florida's lineup this week is no stranger to this stage. All six guys have been to the National Championship with Matthew Kress set to play in his fourth NCAA and final collegiate tournament. He has played 17 total rounds (12 stroke + 5 match) and is coming off a T9 (-3) performance last season, a career best. The lone member of UF's 2023 National Championship lineup, this postseason Kress has finished T2 (+1) at Regionals and T17 (-5) at SECs. Friday's opening round will mark his 52nd overall postseason round.
Junior Jack Turner is the second most experienced Gator at NCAAs as he will make his third appearance. He already has 35 total rounds across the entire postseason with 15 out of 26 stroke play rounds par or better with top-23 finishes, outside of T32 at last year's NCAAs.
The next four UF golfers, all head to nationals for the second time. Poulter and Swanwick return to the lineup for the second straight season. In postseason match play, Swanwick is 5-2 overall and won his matchup, a comeback effort vs. Daniel Bennett (Texas) in last year's quarterfinals. Poulter has logged 11 of 16 rounds par or better in his postseason action as he is coming off career best finishes at SECs (T13, -6) and Regionals (1, E).
Despite Parker Sands making his NCAA Championship debut, he was the alternate all last postseason and has seen Omni La Costa prior. In his first taste of postseason play, the sophomore finished T2 (+1) at Regionals and T17 (-5) at SECs with two match play victories. Four of his six rounds are par or better, highlighted by all three in the 60s at SECs and a career-low 66 (-5) in the opening round at Columbus.
The alternate and sub this week is senior Parker Bell, who was in the lineup for the 2024 National Championship. In the fall, he won both matches to help Florida win the East Lake Cup with the match clinching point vs. Ben James, the No. 1 player ranked in PGA TOUR and No. 2 ranked amateur in the world.
LAST TIME OUT
The Gators validated their No. 1 seed selection in a commanding sweep at the Columbus Regional. Luke Poulter won his second collegiate event with a 54-hole score of 213 (E) to complete the sweep by the Gators. His birdie on the par4 16th moved him into a tie for the lead and closed with two pars for the seventh regional title in program history and first since Andy Zhang in 2018, which was the last time the Gators swept regionals. The postseason sweep is the third time in program history – 2006 and 2018.
Other individual winners include, Brian Gay (1993), Brad Lehmann (1994), Camilo Villegas (2001), Billy Horschel (2006 & 2007) and Andy Zhang (2018).
A shot behind Poulter, who was the first Gator to earn medalist honors this season, were Matthew Kress and Parker Sands. For Sands, it marked a career-best finish and Kress recorded his second straight runner-up outing at regionals. The final two UF golfers were Jack Turner in 10th and Zack Swanwick T11.
For the second straight season, the Gators went wire-to-wire at regionals for a 24-shot victory and the eighth regional title in program history, which is tied for fifth most in the nation. It is the biggest margin of victory since a 23-shot win at the 2023 Sea Best Invitational.
This is the first time in program history with consecutive regional victories. Across the last four seasons, the Gators have secured five out of 12 possible team postseason titles; 2023 National Championship, 2023 & 2025 SEC Championships and 2025 & 2026 NCAA Regional Titles. UF is one of two teams (Oklahoma) to win consecutive regional championships the last two seasons.
The tournament title was the 38th all-time and third regional title under head coach J.C. Deacon for the eighth season of multiple wins, including the last six consecutive. It is also the 23rd win in the last four seasons: 2022-23 (6), 2023-24 (6), 2024-25 (5) & 2025-26 (6). In that span, Florida has played a total of 49 tournaments (46.9%). Deacon is only four team titles away from tying UF Hall of Fame Coach Buster Bishop (42). Since 1965, Florida has seven seasons of six-plus team victories and Deacon owns three of those seasons, which is the most by any head coach in program history.
SEC LOOKBACK
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 captured six team titles for the third time in the last four seasons as the four striaght seasons of five-plus is 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. The postseason features a victory at the Columbus Regional and a runner-up in the SEC Championship.
Individually, Jack Turner has led the group. He has team-bests in stroke average (71.0), top10s (5), top25s (10), birdies (111) and under par rounds (19). 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.
At Regionals, Luke Poulter claimed the first individual victory of the season for the Gators and his second in his college career.
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.
Collecting his second career conference accolade (Freshman Team 2023), Kress has had a consistent spring performance.
Poulter earns his first All-SEC distinction and was also chosen for his second consecutive Arnold Palmer Cup.
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. 16.
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, Parker Sands enters his second season after serving as UF's postseason alternate last year.
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-under 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 Champion 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.
