Eight out of 10.
That’s how Florida coach J.C. Deacon assessed the men’s golf team’s focus and preparation during practice following a last-place finish at the Valspar Collegiate on March 22.
"Hasn’t been perfect, but it’s been good," Deacon said of the team’s commitment in practice. "The guys who have needed to work hard have, and I think the wake-up call kind of hit home."
The Valspar Collegiate was the first last-place finish of Deacon’s career — as a head coach, assistant coach or player.
"I just was super disappointed with our preparation," Deacon said. "We got exactly what we deserved. It was our worst preparation of the year … When you go and play against great teams like that, you gotta be prepared, and we weren’t even close.
"All of us had to pay the price … I think all the guys learned a lesson."
The No. 7 Gators will have a chance to right the ship as they head to Franklin, Tennessee, to compete in the Mason Rudolph Championship on Saturday and Sunday.
The 54-hole tournament will feature 36 holes of play on Saturday and conclude with 18 holes on Sunday. It will be the first time the Gators have ever competed in the event.
In addition to Florida, 13 teams, including Southeastern Conference foes No. 4 Alabama and No. 5 Vanderbilt, will grace the rolling hills and tree-lined fairways of the 7,100-yard Vanderbilt Legends Club.
Ben Hogan Award watch list nominee Sam Horsfield will open up Florida’s five-man lineup. The freshman, who has two victories this season, finished tied for 20th at the Valspar — his worst finish of the Spring season.
Freshman Jorge Garcia, who has been fighting his swing all year, will play the two-spot.
"The last couple days have been huge for me," Garcia said. "It’s been pretty tough to figure what the actual problem is. A lot of it is, I think, how my mind is working towards the shots. (Wednesday) we figured out that I just have to train my eye to see the shot a little easier.
"I’m looking forward to a good week."
Sophomore Alejandro Tosti, junior Ryan Orr and freshman Gordon Neale will round out the Gators’ lineup. For Neale, it will be the first time the California native has been included in the lineup since the Dick’s Sporting Goods Collegiate Challenge on Sept. 27. His last competitive event was as an individual at the SunTrust Gator Invitational on Feb. 21 where he finished in a tie for 19th at even par.
"The talent was never the issue," Deacon said of Neale. "The mind was the issue."
Talent and attitude aside, Saturday and Sunday’s tournament marks the final event on the Gators’ schedule before they head to St. Simons, Georgia, to compete in the SEC Championship.
Deacon said he’s looking for toughness and focus out of his team.
"I wanna see what these guys have," Deacon said. "We gotta be an SEC-ready team this week and to kinda show ourselves we can be the Alabamas and the Vanderbilts going into the biggest tournament of the year.
"We got one tournament to prepare for (the SEC Championship). The guys have done a good job, and they’re ready to go … I’m pumped to see what they can do."
Contact Ray Boone at rboone@alligator.org and follow him on Twitter @rboone1994
Sam Horsfield lines up a shot to start the third round of the SunTrust Invitational on Feb. 21, 2016, at UF's Mark Bostic Golf Course.
