Gators Battle at National Championship, Fall Short of Making Match Play

The Gators started the day in 11th place and five strokes back from eighth place as the top-8 teams advanced to match play tomorrow. Florida (+40) finished seven strokes from making the cut and finished T10.

“Proud of how our guys fought all season,” head coach J.C. Deacon said. “A lot of hard work went into this season and I am incredibly proud of them.” 

You couldn’t ask for a better start as the lineup sank four birdies through the first eight holes. The quick start was led by Ricky Castillo recording back-to-back birdies to put the Gators 2-under and three strokes from the cut. John DuBois (T43) and Yuxin Lin (T32) each added one on 11 (par 5, 660 yards). 

Castillo (-2) and Tyler Wilkes (-1) gave the lineup a boost as they made the turn shooting under on the back that brought the deficit to two strokes. 

It was a four-way battle with Arkansas, Auburn and Texas Tech for that eighth and final qualifying spot. The Red Raiders secured the last spot as teams ranked 1-8 by Golfstat all made the top-8 cut for match play. 

Lin caught fire and rattled off three consecutive birdies on 15-17. He placed a great approach shot on 15 that led to a short birdie part for his 100th of the season. The Junior finished as the third Gator – Castillo and Biondi – to reach triple digits this year. His fourth and final birdie pushed Florida to 4-under and into solo 8th.

However, a double bogey on 18 and a rough start to the front nine caused UF to slip back under the cut. 

A birdie from Biondi brought it to six strokes, but that was the closest the Gators got. He went -2 on the front to end in T20. 

DuBois was the top performer in the lineup today with a 69 (-1) as he went bogey-free on the front. 

 

Scores

Florida Individual

*Subbed in for round three and four. 

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