Gators ranked No. 1 in Golf Channel & Golfweek Preseason Polls
Monday, August 31, 2026 | Men's Golf
Florida headlines the top-30 led by preseason All-American selections Luke Poulter, Zack Swanwick and Jack Turner.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida men's golf team was ranked No. 1 in the Golf Channel and Golfweek Preseason Polls announced on Monday.
Additionally, Luke Poulter (Golfweek - First Team & Golf Channel - Second Team), Zack Swanwick (Second Team by both) and Jack Turner (Golf Channel - First Team & Golfweek - Second Team) were all tabbed preseason All-Americans by both outlets, adding to their preseason recognition that featured the trio on the Haskins Award Watch List, which Florida led the country with three selections.
Florida enters the 2026-27 season returning four of five starters from last year's team that won six tournaments, including a sweep at the Columbus Regional and winning the East Lake Cup. The group also reached the finals of the SEC Championship and Quarterfinals at the National Championship behind historic numbers – lowest 54-hole and low round at SECs and second-lowest round and third-lowest 72-hole score at NCAAs.
This upcoming season begins at the Sahalee Players Championship Sept. 12-13.
Tabbed by the media as the "deepest team in college golf" entering last season, Florida continues to feature a deep roster. Parker Sands emerged last postseason, and the All-Region honoree went 3-1 in match play with two wins at SECs and victory at NCAAs while also finishing runner-up at Regionals in his postseason debut. This summer the junior won the 2026 Trans-Mississippi Amateur.
Other options along with Sands who aim to compete for spots in the lineup are:
Florida has won 38 tournament titles with Deacon at the helm, including eight seasons of multiple wins, including the last six consecutive. UF has won 23 events 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 50 tournaments (46%). 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.
At the National Championships, Florida played the last two rounds a combined 16-under to surge up the leaderboard into T4 and make match play for the third time in last four seasons, joining Auburn as the only two schools to accomplish the feat. The Gators had a final team round of 12-under 284 for the program's second-lowest by par at the National Championship and one back of the program record (-13) in 2001 when Florida swept both the team and individual titles. After sitting 5-over through the first two rounds, UF ended 11-under for their third-lowest 72-hole score at the National Championship, only trailing 26-under in 2001 and 16-under in 1994, both national championship winning seasons.
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. It was also the third regional championship victory led by Deacon.
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. UF is one of two teams (Oklahoma) to win consecutive regional championships the last two seasons. It is the biggest margin of victory since a 23-shot win at the 2023 Sea Best Invitational. The first time in program history with consecutive regional victories. Across the last four seasons, the Gators have secured five out of 13 possible team postseason titles; 2023 National Championship, 2023 & 2025 SEC Championships and 2025 & 2026 NCAA Regional Titles.
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.
Florida captured six team titles for the third time in the last four seasons as the four straight 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.
At the Gators Invitational, Florida defended its home course for the seventh straight season, winning by 14 shots at 27-under defeating Auburn (2024 & 2026 National Champion) and Oklahoma State (2025 National Champion). The win on its home course was 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 1989-199
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.
Golf Channel's Preseason Top 30
1. Florida
2. Oklahoma State
3. Auburn
4. Arizona State
5. Texas Tech
6. Vanderbilt
7. Tennessee
8. Arkansas
9. North Carolina
10. LSU
11. Illinois
12. Texas
13. Georgia
14. Pepperdine
15. Oklahoma
16. Texas A&M
17. UCLA
18. BYU
19. Ole Miss
20. Charlotte
21. Arizona
22. USC
23. Virginia
24. Stanford
25. Florida State
26. Georgia Tech
27. Alabama
28. Cal
29. Wake Forest
30. Utah
Golfweek's Preseason Top 30
1. Florida
2. Arizona State
3. Auburn
4. Vanderbilt
5. Oklahoma State
6. LSU
7. Texas Tech
8. Tennessee
9. North Carolina
10. Arkansas
11. Illinois
12. Georgia
13. UCLA
14. Pepperdine
15. Charlotte
16. Alabama
17. Florida State
18. Texas A&M
19. Oklahoma
20. Stanford
21. Ole Miss
22. Georgia Tech
23. BYU
24. Texas
25. Arizona
26. Virginia
27. USC
28. Notre Dame
29. New Mexico
30. San Diego
Additionally, Luke Poulter (Golfweek - First Team & Golf Channel - Second Team), Zack Swanwick (Second Team by both) and Jack Turner (Golf Channel - First Team & Golfweek - Second Team) were all tabbed preseason All-Americans by both outlets, adding to their preseason recognition that featured the trio on the Haskins Award Watch List, which Florida led the country with three selections.
Florida enters the 2026-27 season returning four of five starters from last year's team that won six tournaments, including a sweep at the Columbus Regional and winning the East Lake Cup. The group also reached the finals of the SEC Championship and Quarterfinals at the National Championship behind historic numbers – lowest 54-hole and low round at SECs and second-lowest round and third-lowest 72-hole score at NCAAs.
This upcoming season begins at the Sahalee Players Championship Sept. 12-13.
Tabbed by the media as the "deepest team in college golf" entering last season, Florida continues to feature a deep roster. Parker Sands emerged last postseason, and the All-Region honoree went 3-1 in match play with two wins at SECs and victory at NCAAs while also finishing runner-up at Regionals in his postseason debut. This summer the junior won the 2026 Trans-Mississippi Amateur.
Other options along with Sands who aim to compete for spots in the lineup are:
- Josh Bai, Jr. (2026 North & South Amateur Champion & 2023 U.S. Junior Amateur Runner-Up)
- Trevor Gutschewski, So. (2025 Western Junior Champion and 2025 U.S. Junior Amateur Champion)
- Noah Kent, Sr. (Competed in 2025 Masters & U.S. Open and 2024 U.S. Amateur Runner-up)
- Jackson Ormond, Fr. (Medalist Qualifier at -12 for 2026 U.S. Open and T5 (-3) in stroke play at 2026 U.S. Amateur)
- Austin Perkins, Fr. (2024 Connecticut State Amateur Champion at 16 & 2026 Connecticut Junior Amateur Champion)
- Parker Severs, So. (2025 FSGA Four-Ball Champion & 2024 AJGA Junior Championship Runner-up)
- 2023 NCAA National Team Championship
- 2023 NCAA Individual Championship
- Five NCAA Championship appearances
- Two National Championship Semifinal appearances
- Three National Championship Quarterfinal appearances
- Two NCAA Regional Team Championships
- NCAA Regional Individual Champion
- Two SEC Team Championships
- Four SEC Final Appearances
- SEC Individual Champion
- 25 tournament titles and 14 individual tournament titles
Florida has won 38 tournament titles with Deacon at the helm, including eight seasons of multiple wins, including the last six consecutive. UF has won 23 events 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 50 tournaments (46%). 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.
At the National Championships, Florida played the last two rounds a combined 16-under to surge up the leaderboard into T4 and make match play for the third time in last four seasons, joining Auburn as the only two schools to accomplish the feat. The Gators had a final team round of 12-under 284 for the program's second-lowest by par at the National Championship and one back of the program record (-13) in 2001 when Florida swept both the team and individual titles. After sitting 5-over through the first two rounds, UF ended 11-under for their third-lowest 72-hole score at the National Championship, only trailing 26-under in 2001 and 16-under in 1994, both national championship winning seasons.
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. It was also the third regional championship victory led by Deacon.
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. UF is one of two teams (Oklahoma) to win consecutive regional championships the last two seasons. It is the biggest margin of victory since a 23-shot win at the 2023 Sea Best Invitational. The first time in program history with consecutive regional victories. Across the last four seasons, the Gators have secured five out of 13 possible team postseason titles; 2023 National Championship, 2023 & 2025 SEC Championships and 2025 & 2026 NCAA Regional Titles.
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.
Florida captured six team titles for the third time in the last four seasons as the four straight 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.
At the Gators Invitational, Florida defended its home course for the seventh straight season, winning by 14 shots at 27-under defeating Auburn (2024 & 2026 National Champion) and Oklahoma State (2025 National Champion). The win on its home course was 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 1989-199
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.
Golf Channel's Preseason Top 30
1. Florida
2. Oklahoma State
3. Auburn
4. Arizona State
5. Texas Tech
6. Vanderbilt
7. Tennessee
8. Arkansas
9. North Carolina
10. LSU
11. Illinois
12. Texas
13. Georgia
14. Pepperdine
15. Oklahoma
16. Texas A&M
17. UCLA
18. BYU
19. Ole Miss
20. Charlotte
21. Arizona
22. USC
23. Virginia
24. Stanford
25. Florida State
26. Georgia Tech
27. Alabama
28. Cal
29. Wake Forest
30. Utah
Golfweek's Preseason Top 30
1. Florida
2. Arizona State
3. Auburn
4. Vanderbilt
5. Oklahoma State
6. LSU
7. Texas Tech
8. Tennessee
9. North Carolina
10. Arkansas
11. Illinois
12. Georgia
13. UCLA
14. Pepperdine
15. Charlotte
16. Alabama
17. Florida State
18. Texas A&M
19. Oklahoma
20. Stanford
21. Ole Miss
22. Georgia Tech
23. BYU
24. Texas
25. Arizona
26. Virginia
27. USC
28. Notre Dame
29. New Mexico
30. San Diego
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