Despite jumping six spots on Sunday, the UF men's golf team still only managed an eighth-place finish.
The team carded a disappointing three-round score of 875 (294-297-284, +11) in the Schenkel E-Z-Go Invitational.
“We played poorly this week…obviously today [Sunday] was better, but it was a long stretch of very poor play,” UF coach Buddy Alexander said. “I don’t remember playing that poorly in recent years. So it was a positive way to end the event and get the monkey off our back.”
The Gators shot the second-lowest round in the field Sunday with a four-under of 284.
Junior Bank Vongvanij, who made his return to the team’s top five for the first time since the John Hayt Invitational on Feb. 28-March 2, was the squad’s leader throughout the tournament. Vongvanij finished with a total score of 213 (69-72-72, -3), which was good enough to finish in a tie for sixth place. This matches his finish at the Gary Koch Invitational, which was a season best.
Following the team’s lead, senior Tyson Alexander made an 18-spot jump in the final round to finish in a tie for 20th. Alexander carded a tournament score of 218 (70-77-71, +2).
Fellow senior Tim McKenney shot the lowest score for the Gators in the final round with a four-under par. He finished the tournament in a tie for 48th with a 54-hole score of 223 (79-76-68, +7).
Making his first appearance in the starting lineup for the Gators, freshman Tommy Mou finished one stroke behind McKenney, good for a 53rd place tie. Mou carded a tournament total of 224 (76-75-73, +8). Mou entered the turn at two-over par, but rebounded and finished at one-over with an eagle on his last hole.
Rounding out Florida’s lineup, junior Andres Echavarria tied for 71st place with a total score of 229 (80-74-75, +13).
Freshman Tyler McCumber, who was taken out of Florida’s starting lineup to compete as an individual, tied for 48th with a 223 (74-73-76, +7) over three rounds.
“We have to get some better play out of our upperclassmen who should be dependable guys,” Alexander said. “Fortunately we have almost two weeks until we leave again so we have a lot of work between now and then.”
