After failing to make the NCAA Championships during its spring season, the Florida men’s golf team looks to redeem itself starting today as it tees off for its fall schedule at the Carpet Capital Collegiate Classic in Dalton, Ga.
The tournament — played on the par-72 Farm Golf Club Course — totals 54 holes of stroke play extended over three days.
Coach J.C. Deacon will be making his Gators’ coaching debut, and Florida will face some of the top teams in the country during the weekend event — including Southeastern Conference foes No. 1 Alabama, No. 11 LSU, No. 20 South Carolina, No. 22 Auburn and Tennessee. The host of the event, Georgia Tech, is ranked No. 2 in the country.
UF’s lineup will include senior J.D. Tomlinson, who competed in every tournament last season. The Gainesville native finished last year with five top 10 finishes, and three top five finishes. Tomlinson said the team as a whole has improved leading up to the tournament.
"We’re playing pretty well as a team," Tomlinson said. "We didn’t really lose anybody from last year, everybody is starting to play a lot better and I think we can play really well this week."
Joining Tomlinson in Florida’s lineup will be senior Thomas Stewart, who competed in only two events last season — both in the fall. Thomas stepped up and won the qualifying tournament during the week.
"That’s what you want to see out of your seniors, guys who step up," Deacon said. "You don’t have to get in anyone’s face or say anything, but you got to lead by example, and Thomas and J.D. were actually one, two in the qualifying, so coaches dream right there."
The Gators will also be sending junior Richard Donegan — who transferred to Florida in spring 2013 — and sophomore Conor Richardson who competed in three tournaments last season. Sophomore Ryan Orr , who finished his freshman campaign with a career-best 215 at the SEC Championship, rounds out UF’s lineup.
"I can’t wait, competing is what I do best, I love it, it fuels me, that’s why I wake up in the morning," Deacon said. "When we get to the golf tournaments, I love winning and I love competing, especially in the SEC now, what an opportunity to beat some great schools."
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Richard Donegan stands on the course during the Suntrust Gator Invitational on Feb. 15 at the Mark Bostick Golf Course.
