The second chapter of J.C. Deacon’s coaching career is about to begin.
The Florida men’s golf team will open its spring season today at Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, for the Sea Best Invitational at TPC Sawgrass’ Dye’s Valley Course.
Deacon’s team looks to build on a fall season which had its ups and downs. Deacon’s first tournament as a coach saw his team finish in 13th place out of 14 teams. But it was able to bounce back and complete the fall with two second place finishes and was highlighted by junior A.J. Crouch’s individual title at the Florida Gulf Coast Invitational.
Deacon wants the team to continue coming together after the fall season.
“We’re trying to build a team, not just a bunch of individuals,” Deacon said, “and we’re starting to see some signs with that and some leadership and that’s what I want to see the most.”
UF will be going up against 14 teams at TPC Sawgrass including a pair of ranked teams in No. 2 Florida State and No. 12 North Carolina.
Southeastern Conference opponents Tennessee and Texas A&M will also be in the field along with host Jacksonville University.
The format for the tournament will be two days with 36 holes being played today and the final 18 tomorrow. The Gators finished in sixth place last year in the tournament.
Florida won’t have to worry about the famous 17th hole at Sawgrass nicknamed the “Island Green,” as they will be playing the valley course. UF’s lineup will have players who have a lot of playing experience on the course, but it still presents challenges.
“It’s a tight golf course and they grow the rough up,” sophomore Ryan Orr said. “Driving the ball is really important out there. If you can do that, the rest of the golf course isn't too difficult.”
The Gators will be sending six players to the Dye’s Valley Course, with the lineup consisting of Orr, Crouch, senior J.D. Tomlinson and freshmen Ryan Celano and Alejandro Tosti. Senior Eric Banks will be competing as an individual.
With most of the players in the lineup going into the tournament having experience playing on the golf course, Deacon knows his team has a good shot of taking it all.
“We’ve seen the golf course a lot more than most of the other teams,” Deacon said. “I’m expecting us to go in there and compete to win.”
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UF men's golf coach J.C. Deacon speaks during a press conference in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Led by first-year head coach JC Deacon, the Florida men's golf team returned to the NCAA Championship last season. Here's Ryan Summer's story on the occasion (http://www.alligator.org/sports/golf/article_982fe4ae-fdf2-11e4-833b-83c78d3e0d3f.html)
