There are no days off as a golfer.
Everything that happens away from the course can either benefit or derail a performance over the weekend.
The Florida men’s golf team travels to Statesboro, Georgia, to compete in the Chris Schenkel Invitational, in what will be its third tournament in as many weeks.
Last season, the Gators finished 13th of 15 teams in this tournament and were led by then-junior Eric Banks, who finished 1-over-par.
Banks is in the lineup again, along with senior J.D. Tomlinson, junior A.J. Crouch and sophomore Ryan Orr who all have experience at this tournament.
Freshman Ryan Celano will fill out the lineup for the Gators and redshirt sophomore Conor Richardson will make the trip and play this weekend as an individual.
With a mix of experience and new blood heading to Georgia, the Gators hope to improve upon their seventh-place finish last week in Tallahassee but haven’t had much time to practice on their home course.
Coach JC Deacon said he believes the team had only been able to practice at home four out of the last 16 days.
Florida’s lineup consists of four of the five golfers that brought in a fourth-place finish at the SunTrust Gator Invitational and was led by Tomlinson’s share of a runner-up position.
Crouch won the FGCU Classic in October, and Tomlinson has finished the last three tournaments in the top-ten.
"I think I’m hitting the ball really well and I feel like if I putt well I have a chance to win each tournament," Crouch said. "There’s a course we’re playing… I know at Georgia Southern’s tournament if I just putt well the course sets up perfectly for me. Putting is the key."
Deacon said he is solely worried about the athletes taking care of the details off the course to improve their game — an area he feels his team has been lacking in recent weeks.
"We have to establish who we are and what’s important to us," Deacon said. "Attitude is the most important thing to me and those guys understand this clearly now."
Follow Ryan Summers on Twitter @RyanSummers18
