Florida entered the final round of the Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate with a seven-stroke lead but could not secure the win in Vestavia Hills, Ala.
After shooting a 282 (+2) in the first round and a 286 (+6) in the second, UF closed the tournament with a 293 (+13) to finish four strokes behind host and Southeastern Conference rival Alabama on Tuesday.
Florida finished the tournament at 861 (+21).
“We have to work on closing,” coach Buddy Alexander said. “We have to make our guys tougher when it matters most.”
Alabama finished with an 857 (+17), including a tournament-low 282 (+6) in the final round to secure a team victory.
Throughout the fall season, seniors T.J. Vogel and Tyler McCumber have anchored the Gators lineup.
Tuesday was no different.
After a fog delay led to a suspension of play on Monday, McCumber and Vogel concluded the tournament in 214 strokes (+4), earning a tie for sixth place.
Vogel was the only Gator to finish the third round at even par. The bounceback followed a second round in which he struggled, hitting five bogeys.
Tuesday marked Vogel’s third straight top-10 finish to open the season and McCumber’s second top-10 finish since earning a tie for second at The Invitational at The Ocean Course in Kiawah Island, S.C., on Sept.11.
“T.J. Vogel played well early,” Alexander said.
Tommy Mou rounded out the seniors, shooting 219 (+9) following his tournament-low first round 68 (-2) on Monday. Mou was competing in his first tournament since last year’s Gator Invitational.
Freshman A.J. Crouch carded a 225 (+15), while J.D. Tomlinson shot a 218 (+8).
The Gators look to finish in the top two for the fourth time this season when they travel to Windermere for the Isleworth Invitational hosted by Texas Tech and UCF.
T.J. Vogel watches one of his drives during a tournament last spring. Vogel will begin competition at The Masters today.
