In May, the Florida men’s golf team held fifth place at the West Lafayette regional after two rounds of play, almost qualifying for a spot in the national championship. With the team’s postseason hopes on the line in the third and final round of the tournament, All-SEC freshman Jack Turner and sophomore Parker Bell knew they had to be at their best.
“I just knew that [Turner] was going to put together a good round,” Bell said. “I remember he [said] to be fearless and trust in the training you’ve done to get to this moment.”
The pair played fearlessly as Turner carded 3-under 69 in the final round while Bell parred and secured a top-10 individual finish on the leaderboard at 4-under 212. Florida placed third in the regional and advanced to its fourth-straight national championship behind Turner and Bell’s strong performances.
The duo’s success in the NCAA regional is one example of how Turner and Bell rely on each other. Their friendship, which developed in the fall when Turner arrived at UF, propelled them to new heights.
According to Bell, his first competitive encounter with Turner was at the first starting qualifier of the 2023-24 season when head coach J.C. Deacon pitted his golfers against each other to determine the starting lineup. Turner finished the qualifier in second place with a score of 20-under.
“I was like, ‘Damn, this kid [Turner] can really play,’” Bell said. “We ended up playing a lot of rounds together in that qualifier because I ended up winning [it].”
Freshman Luke Poulter played a key role in bridging the gap between Turner and Bell. Poulter was Bell’s roommate and Turner’s close friend. The three of them would watch football and basketball together on weekends as a friendship blossomed between Turner and Bell.
“We have very similar mindsets and we’re both super competitive,” Bell said. “I’ve never been one to accept just being average.”
Competition is a huge element for both golfers when teeing off against their foes and among themselves. The teammates constantly try to outperform one another and elevate their game.
Bell lived out his lifelong dream in the 2024 U.S. Open in June when he holed the first birdie of the tournament and earned an even-par 70 in round two.
Turner was inspired by Bell’s performance on one of the biggest stages the sport of golf has to offer.
“I know I’m just as good as him… so I’m obviously hoping to [one day make it to that stage] myself,” Turner said.
Turner and Bell’s skills peaked in the spring as they won starting qualifiers and achieved excellent results at various tournaments. Some of their best performances included Turner’s third place finish at the Calusa Cup in April and Bell’s second place finish at the Schenkel Invitational in March.
“We love to work hard and joke around,” Turner said. “In the [spring], we started traveling a lot together and we’d always room at all of the tournaments.”
Competitiveness isn’t the only notable trait of an outstanding collegiate golfer. Having a lighthearted attitude is just as important as being focused on the serious elements of the game. Being too tense can lead to avoidable errors and cost the team invaluable opportunities.
While on the road, Turner and Bell create a quality team dynamic. They often make jokes and keep the squad relaxed, which balances perfectly with their focus on the course, said head coach J.C. Deacon.
“Jack and Parker together are hilarious,” Deacon said. “[Last year’s team] was probably the best culture we’ve ever had.”
The teammates will continue contributing to the program’s culture in preparation for more significant roles in 2024-25.
After completing productive campaigns in their freshman and sophomore seasons, Turner and Bell will be able to lead the team and guide incoming freshmen Parker Sands and Zack Swanwick.
“I’m super excited to see what’s in store for the team next year because I really think that… we’re only going to get [better],” Bell said.
Contact Aiden Wacksman at awacksman@alligator.org. Follow him on Twitter at @aidenwacksman.
