Florida finally found its rhythm Monday.
Strong performances from juniors Tyler McCumber and T.J. Vogel catapulted the Gators to the top of The Bake leaderboard Monday at the par-72, 7,504-yard Ocean Course in Kiawah Island, S.C., with a 36-hole score of 567 (291-276, -9).
Florida has a big cushion ahead of UAB, which trails by 10 shots. Maryland sits in third at 4-over-par.
The 12-team field will close the tournament today with one more round.
“This was probably our first really good day of the year,” coach Buddy Alexander said. “The morning round was solid, and the afternoon round was good enough where you can consider the whole day a success.”
After carding a 5-over 71 at the one-round Inverness Intercollegiate three weeks ago, McCumber looked much sharper. His consistent play, capped by nine birdies and an eagle against only three bogeys, helped him finish the day with a two-round total of 137 (-7).
McCumber’s eagle was the Gators’ first of the season.
“Tyler had his good stuff for the first time all year,” Alexander said. “He’s been scoring good for us all season but [Monday] he wasn’t having to scramble as much to shoot low.”
Playing No. 1 in the rotation, Vogel finished his day 3-under. After a slow morning round with four bogeys, he rebounded quickly, firing six birdies and just one bogey.
Freshman Eric Banks and junior Tommy Mou both went 1-over for the day. Banks, competing in his second collegiate event, tallied three birdies and parred 15 holes in the afternoon after making three bogeys and a double bogey in his opening round.
“T.J. and Eric both had nice bounce-back rounds in the afternoon,” Alexander said. “As a whole, I thought no one played poorly in the afternoon.”
McCumber sits atop the individual leaderboard, with UAB’s Sam Love sitting in second just two shots back. Vogel finished the day third, while Banks and Mou are tied for 11th with five other golfers.
After not traveling with the team to Toledo, Ohio, for the Gators’ last event, senior Michael Furci returned to the lineup, shooting a 148 (+4).
Alexander said he hopes his team’s stellar play Monday will carry on to the final round.
“We’re looking forward to trying to keep that momentum and seeing what we can do [today],” he said.
