The Florida men’s golf team finished the NCAA Central Regional in third place (279-280-279, 838, -2) on Saturday, and will advance to the NCAA Championships.
In coach Buddy Alexander’s 23 years coaching the Gators, this is the 22nd time they have advanced to the NCAA Championships.
The day after play was suspended due to bad weather, Florida finished eight strokes behind the regional winner Stanford (277-279-274, 830, -10). Only three out of the 14 teams finished their rounds on Friday.
Junior Arnond Vongvanij (68-744-72, 214, +4) had the best day of the all the Gators finishing at two-under for the final day. Vongvanij didn’t bogey a hole the entire day and finished strong with two consecutive birdies on the 17th and 18th.
In his NCAA postseason debut, freshman Phillip Choi posted the highest finish of all the Gators golfers, finishing in a tie for 11th place with a final score of 209 (69-68-72, -1).
One stroke behind Choi was senior Tim McKenney, who finished Regional’s with an even par 210 (72-70-68) and tied for 19th place. McKenney improved his score every day and had his best round on the final day.
McKenney sunk an early birdie on the third hole, and scored an eagle on the par-five fifth. A birdie on the sixth and a bogey on the seventh put him at three-under going into the back nine, where McKenney bogied the 11th, 12th and 13th to put him back at par.
McKenney was able to finish strong though, birdying the 16th and 17th holes.
The Gators will next head to Chattanooga, Tenn., on June 2 to compete in the NCAA Championships.
