For coach Buddy Alexander, the Gators' trip to the Shoal Creek Intercollegiate from Monday to Tuesday in Birmingham, Ala., will be an emotional one.
Alexander, a two-time All-American golfer during his collegiate career, won the 1986 U.S. Amateur Championship at the Shoal Creek course. He will bring his team to the course for the first time since 2005, when former Gators Matt Every and Billy Horschel headlined the event.
“It’s a great venue and a special place for me,” Alexander said. “I think that we are capable of having success in this field.”
UF finished 14th out of 15 teams at the Olympia Fields/Fighting Illini Invitational, its first tournament of 2013. Five Gators who competed in the season opener will tee off at Shoal Creek for the team's second tournament of the year.
“When you play poorly the first time out, you’re anxious to get back out there and play again and rectify a little bit,” Alexander said. “Again, a very young team for the lineup.”
Juniors J.D. Tomlinson and Eric Banks will return to lead the young core. Tomlinson finished tied for 29th place and shot 11-over (222) at the Olympia Fields Invitational. During his final round, he shot even par (70).
Junior Thomas Stewart will make his first top-five appearance of the season this week. Stewart shot a 65 in the qualifying round to play his way in. Freshman Victor Tarnstrom, who finished tied for 50th place at Olympia Fields, also joins the lineup Monday.
After playing in four tournaments last year, redshirt junior Santiago Gavino will compete as an individual. His personal best in 2012 was a score of 6-over par (222), which landed him a fourth-place finish at The Invitational at the Ocean Course in Kiawah Island, S.C.
“It’s tough to not include [Gavino] in the lineup,” Alexander said. “I had to make a tough choice because he can play as well as anybody on the team. He can be a little inconsistent, but his good stuff is extremely good and we could use that.”
Southeastern Conference rivals Missouri and Ole Miss, in-state foes No.18 UCF and North Florida, and Georgia Southern, Liberty, Memphis, North Texas, Toledo, Tulsa and tournament host UAB join Florida in the field. The 54-hole event is a par-72, 7,234-yard course.
Follow Lawrence Laguna on Twitter @LagunaLawrence.
Gators coach Buddy Alexander announced Tuesday that he will retire after the season ends.
