As a result of the Gators’ illustrious postseason record last year, the team earned an invitation to the East Lake Cup. Florida was one of the top teams in the country selected alongside Arizona State, Virginia and Ole Miss.
The No. 10 Florida men’s golf team claimed its second tournament in a row to close the fall season. The three-day tournament featured a stroke-play round on Monday before two rounds of match play.
In the opening round, Florida placed second behind Virginia. The Gators fell three strokes behind the Cavaliers. A three-hour weather delay shortened the round from 18 holes to nine.
Senior Parker Bell posted the low score for Florida at 2-under. It marked his second appearance at the East Lake Cup, and his career-best finish tied for second place.
In the final match of the tournament, Bell faced Virginia senior Ben James. In the 2024 season, James, ranked 12th in the NCAA, earned finalist honors for the Fred Haskins Award and set Virginia's all-time record for top-10 finishes.
“I didn't really expect it to come down to it like it did, but it's Ben James, right?” Bell said. “He's a PGA Tour player."
Junior Luke Poulter and senior Matthew Kress also made their second East Lake Cup appearances for the Gators. Poulter finished the round at even par after a clutch par on the final hole.
Poulter and sophomore Zack Swanwick secured Florida’s other two match wins to lead the Gators to another tournament victory.
Junior Jack Turner recorded the second-lowest score for the Gators during stroke play. He shot one of the four bogey-free rounds, finishing at 1-under.
Florida’s strong stroke-play performance set its first match against No. 12 Ole Miss, marking the first time the two teams have faced since the 2018 and 2023 SEC Championship Semifinals.
Once again, the Gators defeated the Rebels, securing the team’s first match-play win at the East Lake Cup and advancing UF to the finals to take on Virginia. Florida battled not only the Cavaliers but also the rain to complete a 3-2 match-play win.
“We've been preaching team toughness and battling through things when things get hard, and I think that's what great teams do, and we proved that today," said coach J.C. Deacon.
In the spring, the Florida men’s golf team will return to the Sea Best Invitational in Atlantic Beach, Florida, beginning on Feb. 2.
Contact Brooke Bastedo at bbastedo@alligator.org. Follow her on X @BrookeBastedo.
Brooke is entering her third semester as The Alligator's golf reporter. She is a sophomore sports journalism student with a passion for international sports. She enjoys trying as many new hobbies as possible, spending time with friends and watching Detroit sports (Go Lions!).
