Monday will be a homecoming of sorts for men’s golf coach J.C. Deacon when his No. 2 Florida Gators tee off at the 2016 Southern Highlands Collegiate in Las Vegas.
Deacon played his collegiate golf career at the UNLV from 2001 to 2005 where he helped the Rebels capture the Mountain West title in 2002, tying for second individually.
After stints on the Canadian Tour and Gateway Tour, Deacon returned to his alma mater in 2011 as an assistant coach, helping the 2013 squad advance to match play at the NCAA Championships where it tied for fifth.
Under his watch, Deacon also saw two Rebels earn All-America honors, and five Rebels were named to the All-Mountain West Men’s Golf Team.
Now in his second year as the Gators’ head coach, Deacon will get the opportunity to square up against his former squad at the sight of his old stomping grounds.
“I’m really excited,” Deacon said about returning to Las Vegas following the Gator Invitational. “Got actually a bunch of text messages from some friends just saying, ‘You’re home tournament’s over. Now you’re coming onto our turf. So be ready.’
“But no, it’s all in good fun, and I’m really looking forward to it.”
In addition to the Gators, 14 other teams, eight of which are ranked inside the top 20, will tee it off on the 7,510-yard, par-72 Southern Highlands Golf Club, including No. 1 Illinois, No. 4 Alabama, No. 5 Texas, No. 8 Southern California and No. 10 Oklahoma State. The tournament, hosted by UNLV, will be held over a span of three days, culminating on Wednesday.
The Gators will be led by star freshman Sam Horsfield who, following his second-place finish at the SunTrust Gator Invitational on Feb. 21, was named the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week for the second time in his young career.
“It’s going to be a cool experience,” Horsfield said about playing in Las Vegas. “It’s going to be a lot of fun. Obviously, (Deacon) was the assistant coach there and played there, and he knows the course quite well from what I understand.”
With Horsfield claiming the top spot, the Gators’ lineup will include freshman Jorge Garcia, who has finished in the top 25 five-straight times, junior Ryan Orr, whose 71.11 scoring average is second-best on the team, and freshman Kyler Tate. Sophomore Alejandro Tosti, who was disqualified from the last event because of an incorrect scorecard, will round out the Gators’ five-man lineup.
“It’s going to be a neat experience going out there,” Horsfield said. “ And hopefully he can teach us a few things about the course while we’re out there.”
Contact Ray Boone at rboone@alligator.org and follow him on Twitter @rboone1994.
UF men's golf coach J.C. Deacon speaks during a press conference in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
