Cold and windy conditions could make for an interesting tournament this weekend at Florida’s Mark Bostick Golf Course.
The Gators are set to host the SunTrust Gator Invitational on Saturday, their only home tournament of the season.
The 54-hole tournament will feature three rounds in just two days.
The Florida men’s golf team is coming off of two straight second-place finishes in their last two tournaments and is hoping to carry their solid play into this weekend.
"I think leading up to this we’ve prepared the right way," senior J.D. Tomlinson said. "We’re all practicing the right way, we’re getting to bed early, we’re really meshing right now and I think everyone is playing their best golf right now."
Tomlinson is the only player that has appeared in every lineup this year for first year head coach J.C. Deacon.
Deacon said Tomlinson has played a big role in the transition of the team this season.
"He’s been one of the guys that has really had to understand what I expect from him and it’s a lot different from what was expected of him last year," Deacon said. "I’ve really leaned on him (Tomlinson) to be a leader and wanted him to kind of pay attention to that more than maybe he was used to doing. But he’s really starting to fall into that roll and enjoy it a little bit and he’s doing a good job, so I’m proud of him."
Last year in this tournament, Tomlinson and fellow senior Eric Banks finished tied for 18th at 7-over-par.
This will be the last time Banks and Tomlinson play in a tournament on home turf for the Gators.
"It probably depends on how I’m playing and how I played the last two and a half rounds, but I’m hoping to be in one of the final groups," Tomlinson said when asked about his thoughts coming down the back nine on Sunday. "I’m hoping that we’re in position to win the tournament as a team and I’m in that position to win individually. So hopefully I’m feeling a little nervous."
Junior A.J. Crouch, sophomore Ryan Orr and freshman Alejandro Tosti will be in the lineup for the Gators along with Banks and Tomlinson this weekend.
Redshirt sophomore Conor Richardson and freshman Ryan Celano will be competing as individuals.
"I think we should compete. I think we will compete. We just have to go through the right processes to get there and the first thing is embracing whatever conditions come our way," Deacon said. "We’ve been playing good golf, we have a good lineup and I’m really happy with the progress these guys have made and I don’t see it slowing down this weekend."
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J.D. Tomlinson tees off on Day 2 of the SunTrust Gator Invitational on Feb. 16 at the Mark Bostick Golf Course.
