Gordon Neale came to Florida as one of the most heralded junior golfers in the country.
As a high schooler, Neale was on top of his game.
In 2014, he finished runner-up at the Junior PGA Championship. As a result, Neale was also selected to represent the United States in the 2014 Junior Ryder Cup — one of the most distinguished tournaments in all of junior golf.
In April 2015, Neale, who was once a strong Southern Methodist University commit, signed a National Letter of Intent to play his college golf for head coach J.C. Deacon and the University of Florida, joining a freshman class that included top juniors Sam Horsfield and Jorge Garcia.
The future was looking bright for Neale. The native of Dove Canyon, California, was set to help the program take flight in Deacon’s second year at the reigns.
Then things changed in a hurry.
A broken left elbow just a month before classes began slowed Neale’s momentum.
"I was messing around running around in the gym one day last summer, and I slipped in a yoga mat that was lying on the floor," Neale said. "My feet went out from under me, and I landed on my left arm."
The injury sidelined him for three months.
His dream of teeing it up on the college stage was halted.
Neale would make a recovery, though. And finally, on Sept. 25, he got a chance to play for his team. His first time in the Gators’ five-man lineup came at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Collegiate Challenge where he finished in a tie for 40th.
But his first appearance in a Florida uniform would also be his last for quite some time.
One day after practice at the Mark Bostick Golf Course, Horsfield gave Neale a ride back to his dorm. Neale hopped on the back of Horsfield’s bike, and the two took off — in the darkness and the rain.
Neale fell off the bike and fractured his wrist.
More time lost.
It was this adversity that Neale had to deal with. While his teammates enjoyed the glory of competing and winning, Neale recovered, working and waiting for the next opportunity.
"Not one time did that kid come and complain to me," Deacon said of Neale. "He always said over and over, ‘I’m going to earn it, and I’m going to show you.’"
At the Mason Rudolph Championship, Neal showed him.
Neale fired opening rounds of 70 and 68 to take a two-shot lead over Horsfield entering the final round. After months of dealing with adversity, Neale was finally doing what he set out to do when he pledged to play golf for the Gators back in 2015 — compete.
And although a 1-under 70 wasn’t enough to fight off Horsfield during the final round, it still meant something. Neale finished in second place alone at 5 under par. It was the best finish of his career.
Back to doing what he loves, Neale still isn’t satisfied, though.
"Second place in a really big event, and he wasn’t satisfied at all," Deacon said. "He was kinda pissed off that Sam beat him, and that’s what you want.
"He’s hungry, and he’s not gonna stop until he’s the champ."
Contact Ray Boone at rboone@alligator.org and you can follow him on Twitter @rboone1994.
Gordon Neale lines up a shot during the SunTrust Gator Invitational on Feb. 21 at the Mark Bostick Golf course.
