The Florida men’s golf team came into the Hootie at Bulls Bay Collegiate hoping to get one last tournament victory before moving on to postseason play, but that goal seems nearly impossible now.
The Gators find themselves in ninth place, 17 strokes behind tournament leader Augusta State after Monday’s action in Awendaw, S.C.
Florida shot a combined 8-over-par on Day 2, bringing its score to 12-over for the tournament.
Sophomore Phillip Choi and junior Michael Furci were the two bright spots for the Gators, as both turned in 1-under-par 70s.
Choi’s under-par round was due to a solid back nine that included two birdies and no bogeys. Choi is tied for 10th overall.
Furci’s stellar showing was a welcome sign for the junior, who has had trouble cracking the starting lineup all year.
The DePaul transfer not only impressed with his play but also his resiliency, as Monday’s round came on the heels of a discouraging 6-over-par 77 on Sunday.
UF coach Buddy Alexander included Furci in the “couple of guys who played really well today” and added that Michael’s round was “very encouraging.”
Unfortunately for the Gators, the rest of the squad was unable to replicate their success.
Senior Bank Vongvanij had a disappointing round on Monday, as did sophomores Tyler McCumber and Tommy Mou.
McCumber, whose game had progressed nicely in last week’s Schenkel Invitational and to start the Hootie, shot a 5-over-par 76. The sophomore struggled on his way to a 3-over-par front nine but regained his form before a double-bogey 5 on the par-3 12th set him back to 5-over.
Mou has had trouble putting together a complete round all year, and that trend continued Monday when he shot a 5-over-par 76.
Mou’s day was done in by a seven-hole stretch on the front nine that included five bogeys.
The biggest surprise for the Gators was the high score of Bank Vongvanij. The two-time Southeastern Conference Golfer of the Week shot a 6-over-par 77, his worst round of the season. Alexander said Vongvanij’s struggles “show that even the best players can play poorly on occasion.”
Alexander added he is “pretty sure that (Vongvanij) will bounce back (on Tuesday).”
Although the Gators’ chances of winning the Hootie at Bulls Bay Invitational are likely finished, Tuesday’s round will be very important for Florida.
A strong conclusion could help the Gators regain some confidence before the SEC Championship begins on April 15.
Alexander didn’t seem concerned about his team’s play going into the most critical part of its schedule.
“I’m pretty sure our team will bounce back,” Alexander said.
