The Florida men’s golf team has found a formula for success so far this season.
The No. 2-ranked Gators opened the Spring season with a 23-shot victory at the Sea Best Invitational on Feb. 2 and proceeded to collect a third-place finish at their home tournament, the SunTrust Gator Invitational, on Feb. 21.
And, most recently, their play at the Southern Highlands Collegiate in Las Vegas on March 9, a tournament that featured four top-five teams and nine top-20 teams, saw them earn a runner-up finish.
However, it’s inconsistent play and mental errors that are keeping the team from reaching its potential — and from attaining enough sleep.
"It hurt," UF coach J.C. Deacon said about sophomore Alejandro Tosti’s disqualification from Round 1 in Vegas. "It hurt all of us. You know, it cost us a spot in the final group. It cost us two hours of sleep that day. And, you know, those little things add up throughout a tournament and throughout a year."
Tosti signed an incorrect scorecard at the end of the first round, warranting a disqualification from his second-straight tournament.
UF originally held a 1-shot lead at plus 3 before the error was caught. The Gators would end up dropping four shots that day. UF ultimately finished the tournament at plus 9, four shots back of tournament champion and now-No. 3 Southern California.
"It’s unacceptable what happened," the second-year head coach said. "It hurt the team, obviously, and it’s gonna hurt (Tosti) a little bit individually … It’s just something that can’t happen. It’s pretty simple."
Deacon said Tosti fully understands what’s expected of him and doesn’t anticipate the issues that have haunted the Rosario, Argentina, native to plague him going forward.
Deacon added that aside from star freshman Sam Horsfield, who won the Southern Highlands Collegiate for his second victory of the year, many players on this young squad have struggled closing out their rounds.
Freshman Jorge Garcia battled inconsistent play all week in Vegas. Garcia’s rounds of 73, 72 and 76 had some highlights, including plenty of birdies and a hole-in-one during Round 1 for the first ace of his collegiate career, but strings of bogeys and double bogeys painted a wild picture on his scorecard.
Garcia’s struggles stretch back to the Gator Invitational where he finished the event at even par. In his last six competitive rounds, Garcia has shot over par three times and under par only once.
However, Deacon said that although Garcia wasn’t too sharp in Las Vegas, he’s still a feisty competitor.
"That kid is a fighter, man," Deacon said. "He’s unbelievable. You can count on him like no one else. He’s gonna give it his all … He’s gonna be a big leader on and off the course the rest of the year for us."
Tosti, who was excluded from individual competition in Las Vegas but was allowed to compete for the team competition, opened the final round with five birdies on the front nine for a 5-under 31. However, three bogeys and a double undid all that.
Deacon said freshman Kyler Tate had an impressive week with his ball striking but was let down by his putter on the fast and firm greens of the Southern Highlands Golf Club.
The Gators will have a week to work out the kinks. UF returns to action on March 21 to compete in the Valspar Collegiate in Palm City.
"Its gotta be a team effort if we’re gonna do the things that we think we can," Deacon said. "We’ve gotta get all five guys going in the same direction, and we’re close. We’re not there yet, but we’re close."
Contact Ray Boone at rboone@alligator.org and follow him on Twitter @rboone1994.
Alejandro Tosti follows through on a swing at the 2016 SunTrust Gator Invitational at the Mark Bostick Golf Course.
