Gators start strong at Nike Golf Collegiate Invitational

Sunday, October 2

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Nike Golf Collegiate Invitational

Alejandro Tosti birdied his final two holes to finish day one even-par.

Gators start strong at Nike Golf Collegiate Invitational

Sunday, October 2, 2016 | Men's Golf

By: Turner F. Street

FORT WORTH, TX. – The University of Florida men's golf team saw four of its players shoot even-par or better in the first round of the Nike Golf Collegiate Invitational on Sunday. Florida's 277 propelled the team into third place and made them one of only three teams to shoot under-par.

Sophomore Sam Horsfield came out strong for the Gators, carding four birdies and only one bogey en route to a three-under 67. That score put Horsfield in a tie for third, just one stroke off the lead.

Sophomores Ryan Celano and Jorge Garcia and junior Alejandro Tosti all finished with even-par 70s. The three also birdied at least one of their final three holes.

Oklahoma University's 273 (-7) put it in the team lead at the end of the first round. Oklahoma's Blaine Hale and Vanderbilt's John Augenstein are tied for the lead, shooting 66s to finish the first day at four-under.

Head Coach J.C. Deacon
(on the entire team's performance) "They were great. We had a good day of preparation yesterday, the guys got to learn the course, and it was all business today. We've got a great group and our goal is to focus on what we can control and play tough out there and they all did that. Alejandro (Tosti) had a great finish, birdieing his last two holes, Jorge Garcia birdied is last hole and we got a big round from our leader, Sam Horsfield."

(on Horsfield's performance coming off a below-average performance at the Windon Memorial Classic) "It just shows what he's made of. He went home and had a great week of preparation, really got focused. He played great today. Not a surprise at all to any of us, but we really need him, he's a huge part of what we're doing and I'm really happy that he could come back with a big round today."

(on what the team needs to do to continue rising up the leaderboard) "We just have to keep doing the same things—focus on what we can control, taking care of our own business and getting off to good starts. That's what it's going to be for this team. We have unbelievable talent, we just need to take care of what each individual can control and we're going to be in a great spot."

Leaderboard
Team:
1.     Oklahoma -7 (273)
2.     Vanderbilt -5 (275)
3.     Florida -3 (277)
4.     Wake Forest E (280)
5.     Texas +2 (282)
6.     Southern Cal        +3 (283)
T7. Georgia +5 (285)
T7. Oregon +5 (285)
T7. Stanford +5 (285)
T10.Clemson +6 (286)
T10.Washington +6 (286)
12. Duke +7 (287)
13. TCU +10 (290)
14. Ohio State +12 (292)
15. Arizona +15 (295)

Players:
T3.          Sam Horsfield      -3 (67)
T16.        Ryan Celano        E (70)
T16.        Jorge Garcia E (70)
T16.        Alejandro Tosti     E (70)
T34.        Gordon Neale +2 (72)
Full Leaderboard

Follow the Gators: The Orange and Blue will tee off the second round in Fort Worth, TX., Monday